Nigeria: Europe's Electronic Junkyard

2016-12-20

ABUJA - Thousands of tonnes of used electronics and illegal e-waste are imported into Nigeria every year. High demand for used European electronics, ineffective regulation and a lack of local recycling facilities pose a growing threat.

A team of journalists from Nigeria, Norway and Denmark has traced the path of e-waste through Nigeria's informal sector of importers, scavengers and repairers to hazardous dismantlers and substandard recyclers. While Ghana's Agbogbloshie e-waste dump has been in the media spotlight for years, Nigeria's e-waste problem is overlooked, despite being five times larger.

The investigation also took the team to buying and shipping points in Germany and revealed how loopholes in European law enforcement allow illegal shipments of e-waste to take place. Used electronics provide valuable IT for Africa's largest population. But once they reach the end of their life, a lack of responsibility for their disposal poses a serious threat.

Team members

Ida Eri Sorbye

Ida Eri Sorbye has worked as a freelance journalist in Norway and currently works as project manager.

Idris Akinbajo

Idris Akinbajo is a Nigerian award winning investigative journalist.

Freja C. Eriksen

Freja C. Eriksen is a Danish freelance journalist.

Marthe Vee

Marthe Vee was a Norwegian freelance journalist and currently works for Little Big Sister.

Supported

€4,790 allocated on 23/09/2015

CC/2015/024

Grant

Connecting Continents

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