Ororo Waste Management has partnered with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), with support from the Shell Foundation, to launch a network of used cooking oil collection kiosks across Lagos, marking a major step toward circular waste management, public health protection and inclusive economic growth.
The initiative, unveiled at the LASEPA Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, is designed to formalise the collection of used cooking oil from households and small businesses, turning waste into economic value while reducing environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal. The programme also targets the informal economy, creating income opportunities for residents, waste pickers and micro-entrepreneurs.
The launch brought together government officials, sustainability experts, environmental regulators and private-sector stakeholders, all aligned on the need to transform waste streams into productive resources. Speakers at the event stressed that used cooking oil, when properly recovered, plays a vital role in the global biofuel value chain and can unlock significant economic benefits for Lagos and Nigeria at large.
LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, described the project as a strategic intervention that links environmental protection with economic empowerment. He noted that Lagos, due to its population size and consumption patterns, has the capacity to unlock a minimum of $20 million annually from used cooking oil recovery alone.
Brandspur Brand News understands that the collection kiosks will be deployed across all LASEPA zonal offices, including the agency’s headquarters, allowing residents to conveniently deposit used cooking oil in exchange for incentives. According to Ajayi, this incentive-based model encourages voluntary compliance and ensures the long-term sustainability of the programme.
Ajayi warned that improper disposal of used cooking oil remains a major contributor to blocked drainage systems, flooding, road damage, groundwater contamination and disease outbreaks in Lagos. He also highlighted the public health risks of repeatedly reheating cooking oil, noting that structured collection is critical to safeguarding both the environment and consumer health.
Managing Director and Project Lead of Ororo Waste Management, Ayo Banjo, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to building a functional circular economy around used cooking oil. He explained that households account for between 50 and 60 per cent of used cooking oil generation, making community-level collection essential to achieving scale.
Banjo added that Ororo has already worked closely with LASEPA to drive compliance among restaurants, hotels and commercial kitchens, and that the household kiosk rollout represents the next phase of expansion. He said the programme is structured to deliver dignified income opportunities for youths, waste collectors and micro-entrepreneurs, while positioning Lagos as a credible supplier within the global biofuel supply chain.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Students’ Union Affairs (Tertiary Education), Samuel Kappo, praised the initiative as a practical solution to environmental degradation and public health concerns. He stressed that students and young people would play a critical role in driving awareness, participation and behavioural change.
The event concluded with the official unveiling of the Household Used Cooking Oil Collection Kiosk Initiative by LASEPA’s leadership alongside key partners, formally signalling the start of operations across Lagos State.
Residents have been encouraged to actively participate by depositing used cooking oil at designated Ororo UCO kiosks located at LASEPA zonal offices and approved collection points. Stakeholders at the launch agreed that widespread participation would not only reduce environmental pollution but also support job creation, cleaner communities and sustainable waste-to-value systems.
With Lagos facing mounting environmental pressures from rapid urbanisation, the initiative is being positioned as a scalable model that aligns environmental compliance with economic incentives, reinforcing collective responsibility for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable city.
