OSOGBO, Nigeria – A few years back, when the bustling Alekuwodo market in Osogbo in Osun State quietened down at night, the chaos of the day lingered. Crushed tomatoes, discarded papers, plastic wrappers, bean husks, watermelon rinds and other fruit scraps turned the market square into a suffocating mess. As the sun set, the stench would rise — a grim reminder of the day’s waste.

Ruth Adelakun, 57, acknowledges that she was part of the problem. As a locust bean seller, she set up her roadside stall under a tarpaulin umbrella to shield herself from the heat. The sweltering weather meant she drank plenty of water out of plastic sachets.

“I can drink at least five sachets a day,” she admitted, waving an empty plastic wrapper. “I used to drop them anywhere because I didn’t know it harmed the environment.”

But the harm is real. “Dirty environments breed disease-causing microorganisms,” explained Dr Mahmud Abubakar from Federal Teaching Hospital in Kebbi State.

“Air pollution increases respiratory infections, while contaminated water can cause cholera, diarrhoea, and even bladder cancer.”

Struggling with waste

Nigeria ranks in the bottom 30 countries globally for waste management — ranked 152nd out of 180 in the  Environmental Performance Index  2024 compiled by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, with a dismal score of 12.7.

Mayokun Iyaomolere, environmentalist and executive director of the environmental group, Plogging Club, warns that this negligent approach to waste fuels climate change.

“Waste ends up in landfills, releasing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. These emissions contribute to extreme weather events like flooding, heatwaves, and droughts,” he said.

The impact of climate change is already severe, with Nigeria ranked 158th out of 182 countries for climate vulnerability.

By September 2024, flooding had affected 31 states, displaced over 641,000 people, and claimed 285 lives, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Meanwhile, rising heat levels have led to deadly heatwaves in the southwest with average temperatures of 50C last February, crippling food security and worsening Nigeria’s hunger crisis  — with the Global Hunger Index scoring the nation 110th out of 120 countries, signalling serious food insecurity.

Local hero on a mission

Nigeria generates  0.51 kg of municipal solid waste per capita every day , amounting to an overall daily generation of 75.6 million kg, according to the World Bank. This ends up at  landfills and causes carbon emissions.

Amid this crisis, one man decided to act. Olaunlokun Johnathan, 45, doesn’t have a formal environmental science degree — he simply loves clean surroundings. In 2004, he began advocating for a litter-free Nigeria, undeterred by insults or indifference.

“Our people are part of the problem — even the regulators don’t take their jobs seriously,” he said, frustrated. “They care more about their salaries, and there aren’t enough waste-collection vehicles.”

Determined, Johnathan cleans the streets of Osogbo three times a week, picking up litter wherever he goes. Dressed in a polo shirt or orange jacket, with cotton gloves and worn-out shoes, he tirelessly works to change minds.

In 2021, Johnathan took his mission to the next level — dressing up like Spider-Man. His costume caught people’s attention, helping him spread his message to schools, markets, motor parks, and religious centers across states like Osun, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos.

He taught schoolchildren to use trash bins, urged market vendors to tidy up their stalls, and showed drivers how to keep motor parks clean. Slowly but surely, his persistence paid off.

Shift in mindset

Meanwhile, Adelakun is now a changed woman. She keeps a sack for her waste and disposes of it properly every evening.

“I keep my trash here and empty it into the big government bin,” she said proudly.

Usman Zakariyya, a 25-year-old bean seller, also adjusted his habits after hearing Johnathan speak.

“Before, I used to leave the chaff blown out here without worrying about packing up in the evening before going home but now any time I finish the blowing I sweep and pack up them instantly,” said Zakariyya.

“When people get conscious of their environment and no longer litter, it is a window of opportunity for them to adjust to other behaviors that ultimately have environmental impact,” Iyaomolere told Health Policy Watch.

Uphill battle

Despite his successes, Johnathan faces many challenges. People mock him, while government grants are restricted to younger advocates aged 18 to 30, leaving him without crucial funding.

“Some people thought I was mad,” he confessed. “I’ve thought of quitting, but the community needs change.”

However, today Alekuwodo market is noticeably cleaner. People pack their waste neatly, and traders sweep up as soon as they spot Johnathan.

“You won’t find trash carelessly thrown around here anymore,” he said, smiling as he waved to a watermelon seller tidying his stall.

“Sweep it clean!” he called out, his voice echoing through the square as he walked off to continue his mission — a living reminder that one determined person can inspire an entire community to change.

Image Credits: Abdullahi Jimoh.