Ororo Waste Management, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and with the support of Shell, has launched Household Used Cooking Oil Collection Kiosks to enable residents and players in the informal economy to earn income while supporting environmental protection in Lagos State.
The launch event, held at the LASEPA Conference Room, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors focused on waste to value solutions, public health protection, youth empowerment, and responsible environmental management.
In his welcome address, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, described the initiative as a strategic step toward environmental protection, climate action, and economic empowerment. He said used cooking oil plays a critical role in the global biofuel supply chain and noted that Lagos has the potential to unlock a minimum twenty million dollar market due to its population size and cooking habits.
Dr. Ajayi explained that improper disposal of used cooking oil contributes to blocked drainage systems, flooding, road damage, groundwater contamination, and disease outbreaks. He added that reheating cooking oil multiple times poses serious health risks, making structured collection important for public health and environmental sustainability.
According to him, the initiative will establish collection points across all LASEPA zonal offices, including the agency headquarters, where residents will be incentivized for turning in used cooking oil. He said linking environmental compliance with economic value will encourage voluntary participation and ensure long term sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Project Lead of Ororo Waste Management, Mr. Ayo Banjo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to building a circular economy around used cooking oil. He stated that environmental sustainability and economic empowerment are interconnected, adding that households account for between fifty and sixty percent of used cooking oil generation.
Mr. Banjo said Ororo Waste Management has worked closely with LASEPA for several years to drive compliance and collection among restaurants, hotels, and commercial kitchens. He explained that the household kiosk rollout represents the next phase of the initiative and creates dignified income opportunities for waste pickers, youths, and micro entrepreneurs, while positioning Lagos and Nigeria as contributors to the global biofuel supply chain.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Union Affairs (Tertiary Education), Mr. Samuel Kappo, commended LASEPA and Ororo Waste Management for the initiative. He described it as a step toward a safer and healthier Lagos and emphasized the role of students and young people in ensuring the success of the program.
The event concluded with the official unveiling of the Household Used Cooking Oil Collection Kiosk Initiative by the General Manager of LASEPA alongside key stakeholders, marking the commencement of the initiative across Lagos State.
LASEPA encouraged residents to actively participate by depositing their used cooking oil at designated Ororo UCO kiosks located at LASEPA zonal offices and approved collection points, reinforcing collective responsibility toward environmental protection, public health, and sustainable waste management. The program is expected to expand access and awareness statewide quickly.
