Lagos State launches household used cooking oil collection kiosks to support biofuel production, improve public health, and drive climate action
Lagos State Government has launched household used cooking oil collection kiosks across the state to boost environmental protection, public health, and climate action, while tapping a potential $20 million biofuel market.
The initiative, unveiled by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), was implemented in partnership with Ororo Waste Management and supported by the Shell Foundation.
Government officials, environmental experts, private sector partners, and youth representatives attended the event.
Dr Babatunde Ajayi, LASEPA’s General Manager, said the programme positions Lagos as a key player in the global biofuel supply chain while addressing pollution and public health issues caused by improper disposal of used cooking oil.
“This initiative is about unlocking a minimum $20 million market in Lagos and putting the state on the global map in the biofuel supply chain,” Ajayi said. “Used cooking oil is a critical feedstock for biofuel, and Lagos ranks very high in terms of potential.”
Ajayi noted that Nigeria’s large population and oil-based cooking habits make the country one of the world’s top producers of used cooking oil, with Lagos contributing about 50 per cent of the national volume.
He added that reheating oil repeatedly harms health, while improper disposal clogs drains, damages roads, and increases flooding.
The programme introduces manned collection points at LASEPA zonal offices and the agency’s headquarters, allowing households to turn in used oil and earn income.
Ajayi explained that the initiative would rely on voluntary compliance, stressing that economic incentives drive participation.
Ororo Waste Management’s Managing Director, Mr Ayo Banjo, said the initiative empowers households, waste pickers, and youths to participate in a circular economy, generating income while supporting environmental sustainability.
Mrs Dayo Adebayo, LASEPA Director of Environmental Sustainability, said the programme embraces the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet, and prosperity.
Mrs Ayodele Oso, Director of Air Quality Management, noted it would help reduce emissions and unsafe reuse of oil.
The government added that youths would serve as “vanguards and foot soldiers,” promoting participation across communities, markets, and residential estates, creating a grassroots-driven system aligned with Lagos’ environmental and public health goals.
