The IAWP condemns the destruction and burning of recyclable materials belonging to informal waste pickers in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, Nigeria, along with the detention of workers during the enforcement operation, and stands in full solidarity with its affiliate ASWOL. The burned materials represented months of labour worth millions of naira, and their open burning also caused serious environmental harm, a bitter contradiction from workers who keep waste out of landfills and drains. Framing the incident as part of a global pattern that criminalises recovery rather than recognising it as a public service, the IAWP demands the immediate release of those detained, an independent investigation, fair compensation, and the recognition and integration of informal waste pickers into the state’s waste management framework.
