…As back-up to its emerging Orange Economy.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
A ‘Waste Management Framework’ has been launched by the Plateau State Government. The initiative is to support Plateau State’s emerging Orange Economy by creating opportunities around environmental management, urban beautification and tourism.
Speaking during the launch of the Framework on Tuesday at the Plateau State Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, in Jos, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang asserted that the government “seeks to institutionalize sustainable waste management across the state through recycling, waste-to-wealth initiatives, public-private partnerships, and greater participation by households, businesses, civil society organizations, and informal waste workers.
The governor was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Arc Samuel Nanchang Jatua, who disclosed that, government would introduce competitions among streets (or neighbourhoods), with incentives for communities that maintain the cleanest and most attractive environments.
He suggested that residents should undertake landscaping projects, plant trees and flowers, maintain lawns, and improve the appearance of their streets, while government could provide incentives such as road rehabilitation for winning communities.
He revealed thus: “We’re trying to make Jos a better city, a more beautiful city, and a bigger tourist attraction for our people.
The governor further disclosed that the Framework is a renewed commitment to tackle indiscriminate waste disposal, improve environmental sanitation, promote recycling, and unlock economic opportunities from waste.
He said the framework would translate into cleaner cities, improved public health, and a stronger tourism sector for the state, adding that, the initiative would also support Plateau’s emerging Orange Economy by creating opportunities around environmental management, urban beautification, and tourism.
He explained that, “This means, a cleaner city, a better city, a tourist haven keying into the Orange Economy, and it also demonstrates that government is paying attention to the health and welfare of citizens, while also creating room for the people to participate actively in governance.”
“Waste management would not be left entirely to government. Citizens, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders also have important roles to play,” he stressed.
“It is not a one-sided affair; it is a two-sided affair. Both the government and the people have roles to play. The civil society organizations have a role to play and, so, it is an all-encompassing thing,” Jatau said.
According to him, the collective responsibility would ultimately demonstrate that the Mutfwang administration was working to improve the lives and environment of the people, while on the persistent problem of waste clogging drainages and littering streets, particularly during the rainy season, Jatau attributed the challenge partly to poor compliance by residents.
Governor Mutfwang said, the launch of the framework was part of the government’s broader effort to address the problem and promote responsible environmental practices, and urged residents to take ownership of their immediate surroundings, stressing that sanitation should begin at the household and neighbourhood levels, adding that, “When we say, today is a Sanitation Day, it is for people to come out and clean their environment.”
Using the analogy of individual farms, he explained that, “If every resident took responsibility for the space around their homes, the collective result would be a cleaner city,” noting that, the state was also considering innovative approaches to encourage residents to participate in urban renewal and beautification.
Jatau expressed optimism that such an approach could significantly transform communities within a short period by encouraging residents to take ownership of their environment. He also dismissed concerns about the absence of a Central Waste Disposal system, saying, the new framework was designed to address the various gaps in the state’s waste management system.
Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development, Hon. Peter Gwam, said the framework was the outcome of efforts that began, in 2024, and was designed to provide a comprehensive approach to the state’s waste management challenges.
Gwam said the framework would move Plateau away from conventional waste disposal practices towards a system that promotes environmental protection, public health, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
He noted that effective waste management was not merely about keeping the environment clean but also about protecting citizens and creating economic opportunities from waste.
Also speaking, Country Representative of Tearfund Nigeria, Regina Afiemo, described the framework as “more than a technical document,” saying, it represented a shared moral and civic commitment to protecting the environment and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
Afiemo said economic growth and environmental preservation must go hand-in-hand, stressing that waste management should be viewed as an avenue for economic empowerment, livelihood creation, and poverty reduction.
She said, Plateau State, with its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and tourism potential, needed a coordinated and systemic approach to address waste management challenges arising from rapid urbanization and infrastructural gaps.
According to her, Tearfund’s partnership with Plateau State extends beyond waste management to areas including peace-building, community mobilization, disaster resilience, and gender-based violence response.
She said the framework would promote a deliberate shift from conventional waste disposal towards what she described as a “circular economy” – where waste is treated as a valuable economic resource.
Afiemo further said the framework aligns with Nigeria’s national climate priorities, including the National Climate Change Policy 2021-2030, the Climate Change Act, the Extended Producer Responsibility Framework, and Nigeria’s Circular Economy Roadmap.
She noted that the framework also recognizes informal waste workers as essential actors in the waste management chain, and seeks to integrate them into formal and dignified waste management systems.
“The Plateau State Waste Management Framework builds a unified ecosystem, linking households, businesses, agencies, and informal actors,” she said.
She highlighted the role of faith-based organizations in promoting behavioural change, noting that the framework contains a faith-based Behavioural Change Manual designed to equip faith actors with tools to discourage littering and encourage environmental responsibility.
Afiemo said the initiative supports Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and contributes to the United Nati5ons Sustainable Development Goals on sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
She, however, urged the State Government to back the framework with strong political will, institutional support, and adequate budgetary allocations.
Tearfund, she said, remained committed to supporting the state through technical advisory services, capacity building, and strategic partnerships to ensure the framework delivers cleaner and safer communities.
The launch marks a significant step in Plateau State’s efforts to reform waste management, with stakeholders calling for sustained collaboration between government and citizens to achieve a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous state.