In a presentation delivered on behalf of Mr. Muhammed Rudman, the MD/CEO of IXPN, by Mr. Uchechukwu Ugwuanyi, assistant general manager, Network, the IXPN revealed startling data regarding the hidden environmental cost of Nigeria’s digital revolution.

Ugwuanyi highlighted the impressive trajectory of Nigeria’s internet landscape, noting that internet users have surged from 64 million in 2013 to 139 million as of December 2024.

He further noted that while Lagos had zero Tier III data centers 15 years ago, the city now boasts about seven, with more under construction.

However, the IXPN boss warned that this growth comes with a heavy price tag.

“What is often invisible is the hardware churn,” Ugwuanyi stated. “Growth requires more equipment, energy, and materials. But frequent replacements of routers, switches, and servers create a massive stream of e-waste.”

He described this as a sustainability paradox, where faster technology leads to shorter device lifespans (typically 3-5 years), which in turn generates more waste.

With the world producing over 60 million tonnes of e-waste in 2024, of which less than 25% was formally recycled, the stakes for Nigeria are incredibly high.

Despite the grim global statistics, Mr. Rudman’s message offered a unique strategic insight: Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is actually an opportunity.

“Nigeria’s digital build-out is young,” Ugwuanyi explained. “This is a chance to build green from the start.”

He noted that because 99% of internet users in Nigeria are on mobile, a significant portion of the heavy infrastructure; data centers, ISPs, and fiber networks, is yet to be built.

This gives Nigerian operators the chance to adopt “Green Procurement” policies now, favoring vendors with sustainability reporting and longer hardware lifecycles, rather than trying to retrofit dirty networks later.

The presentation then outlined a practical roadmap for sustainable infrastructure for network operators and data centers to mitigate this crisis immediately. This roadmap includes three key areas:

First, the industry must Extend Hardware Lifecycles, moving away from discarding equipment solely due to age. Ugwuanyi advocated for refurbishing and redeploying older gear to secondary roles and purchasing certified refurbished equipment where performance allows.

Second, regarding Energy Efficiency, operators were urged to source partial renewables, such as solar offsets, and use low-power ASICs and optics to reduce carbon footprints.

Finally, the IXPN called for Transparency, asking operators to publish sustainability metrics alongside their standard uptime and traffic statistics, making environmental performance a key performance indicator.

Addressing the policy landscape, the presentation acknowledged that while the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) regulates e-waste, “enforcement gaps persist.” The IXPN urged operators not to wait for regulation but to proactively support policy by working only with certified recyclers and demanding vendor take-back options to ensure traceability.

Closing the presentation, Ugwuanyi reminded the stakeholders that the internet is not a cloud-based abstraction but a physical machine.

“The Internet’s infrastructure is physical, it has weight, it consumes power, and when it dies, it becomes waste,” he said. “A sustainable Internet isn’t just about connecting more people… it’s about how responsibly we shed the devices we discard, so they don’t pollute the future we’re trying to build.”

Speaking at the 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue organised by ITREALMS Media group, with the theme “Nigeria: Recycle Your E-Waste It’s Critical” Ugbechie described e-waste as a “crucial national emergency,” stressing that Nigerians must be made to understand the economic value hidden in discarded electronic devices.

“The global value of e-waste is about $58 billion. Every piece of e-waste is cash. This thing you are throwing away, this thing you see as refuse, has value. And when you put value to something, you don’t trash it,” he said.

Ken Ugbechie criticised Nigeria’s deepening “show-off” and disposable consumption habits, pointing out that many consumers replace devices not out of necessity but to appear trendy.

“We are stupendously extravagant as a people. You buy a phone today, two months later you throw it away to buy another just to show you are in town. Manufacturers exploit this behaviour and know exactly where to dump inferior products,” he noted.

He warned that this behavioural pattern not only encourages reckless disposal but also incentivises the importation of substandard electronics into the Nigerian market.

Ugbechie further highlighted the severe health dangers associated with unmanaged e-waste, noting that toxic substances such as mercury and lead seep into the soil and water systems.

“E-waste is carcinogenic. When these substances wash into our environment, they enter our lungs and skin. That is why cancer and related diseases are rising, especially among the younger population,” he said.

He called on government agencies to professionalise e-waste handling and ensure harmful materials do not continue to contaminate the environment.

While acknowledging NESREA’s regulatory mandate, Ugbechie insisted that the agency must expand its public awareness efforts and create a structured ecosystem of collectors and recyclers.

“NESREA has to create different layers of people who can pick up e-waste. But most importantly, there must be continuous enlightenment. The behavioural pattern of the people is what drives this crisis,” he said.

Ugbechie ended with a call: “NESREA needs to increase its budget for media and publicity. Without massive enlightenment, this crisis will continue.”

The 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue continued to spotlight the urgent need for coordinated national action, stronger regulation, and sustained environmental education to curb Nigeria’s fast-worsening e-waste problem.

This year’s dialogue was supported by the ALTON, NCC, IXPN, NLNG, NESREA and EPRON while students from several schools were in attendance including ReapVille Schools, St Joachim College, Upland College and Stigal Int’l Schools among other stakeholders.

This reaffirmation came during the Sustainability Table Discourse Series (STS) themed “Sustainability in Action: Scaling the Impact of a Thriving Future to Achieve the SDGs,” where industry leaders, policy makers, and private sector players converged to discuss the role of collaboration, innovation, and circular economy models in achieving Nigeria’s sustainability goals.

Representing Kazeem Oladepo, senior vice president and chief operating officer, IHS Nigeria, Gimba Mohammed, director, of Government and External Relations, delivered the keynote address titled “Sustainability in Action: Scaling Impact for a Thriving Future Through Sustainable Telecommunications Infrastructure – A Provider’s Perspective.” 

In his remarks, he emphasized that sustainability remains central to IHS’s operations and long-term strategy.

 “Sustainability is at the heart of who we are. It is embedded within our corporate values and reflected in every aspect of our operations, from powering sites sustainably to nurturing the communities we serve and promoting sound ethical practices throughout our business,” he said.

He further highlighted Project Green, describing it as an IHS Group initiative and a key step in the company’s carbon reduction roadmap.

“Through Project Green, IHS Towers continues to prioritize alternative energy sources to reduce dependency on diesel. Across our markets, we have reduced diesel consumption by nearly 50 million litres, and in Nigeria fitted over 6,000 power sites with hybrid energy solutions, and connected almost 4,000 sites to the grid,” Gimba noted.

In addition to its clean energy initiatives, IHS Nigeria has made significant strides in community and environmental development. These include planting 4,000 trees across eight states, installing solar streetlights in underserved communities, and collaborating with Green Hope Africa to launch the Climate Action Superheroes (CASH) initiative, an educational program aimed at empowering students to become climate ambassadors.

The company’s efforts in e-waste management were also highlighted, following its partnership with the Electronic Producers Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON).

“We trained 214 participants, including collectors and regulators, and supported the establishment of 69 waste collection centers across six states and the FCT. Our goal is to drive sustainable waste management practices through advocacy and strategic collaboration,” Gimba said.

During the panel session, Ghaith Al Hasan, Director, Engineering and Design, IHS Nigeria, elaborated on the success of Project Green and the importance of strong partnerships in achieving scale.

“Our experience has shown that the right partnerships, technologies, and maintenance structures are essential for sustainability. Today, IHS operates renewable energy systems across more than 10,000 sites in Nigeria, demonstrating what is possible when innovation meets commitment,” he stated.

Adding a regulatory perspective, Grace Majekodunmi, principal environmentalist scientist and Regulatory Specialist, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) spoke on the circular economy model being adopted across Nigeria’s manufacturing sectors.

“Producers must now take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, from production to disposal. The Extended Producer Responsibility framework ensures that manufacturers adopt cleaner technologies and minimize waste,” she explained.

Representing the agricultural sector, Aisha Raheem-Bolarinwa, chief executive officer, Farmz2U discussed the role of technology and collaboration in building climate-resilient value chains.

“We don’t have a production problem as much as we have a distribution problem. Technology can enable resilience, but without hard infrastructure and supportive policy, farmers cannot access the full benefits,” she noted.

From a financing and investment standpoint, Adaobi Nnorukah, Investment director, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Limited, highlighted the importance of early engagement with equity partners to secure climate infrastructure funding.

“Successful climate projects require institutional investors at the table from the start. Early collaboration helps identify and manage risks, ensuring projects remain bankable and sustainable,” she said.

In concluding his keynote speech, Gimba reaffirmed IHS Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to sustainable growth and partnership.

“At IHS Nigeria, we are deliberate about scaling impact through sustainable infrastructure. Our mission is to ensure that our assets not only connect people digitally but also empower them environmentally, economically, and socially,” he concluded.

These reports are not true and MTN has not received any revised offer from IHS. MTN announced in September that the lease for the 2,500 sites (which was due to expire in 2024 and 2025) had been awarded to ATC after a very fair and transparent procurement process.

“The agreement with ATC over the 2,500 sites is final, having gone through a rigorous process involving our highest governance approvals,” said Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer. “Our preference is always for bilateral renewal, subject to competitive pricing and terms. In this instance the ATC proposal was superior.”

MTN will continue to engage constructively with IHS on further opportunities that arise, including the renewal of the next vintages of towers that come up for renewals in 2025.

“Other opportunities for value optimisation will arise and we will undertake a similar exacting process. We are hopeful that participating parties including IHS will present a compelling proposition,” Okigbo said.

He dismissed allegations that contracting the sites to ATC would lead to network disruptions and have a negative environmental impact: “Such allegations are factually incorrect and misleading. Tower transfers between two infrastructure companies do not necessarily lead to network disruption.”

MTN is confident that ATC’s plans will ensure a smooth transition between towers.

“Through our partnership with ATC, we are setting the stage for a new era of connectivity in Nigeria, one that not only meets the growing demands of our customers but also aligns with our focus on expense efficiencies, commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” Okigbo said.

MTN expects ATC to adhere strictly to NCC guidelines and NESREA regulations on deploying telecoms sites.

“We are deeply committed to achieving net-zero emissions and part of the differentiated value ATC provides is a commitment to operating green sites, ensuring significant reduction in carbon emissions. Contrary to the allegations of harmful environmental impact, the partnership with ATC will reduce greenhouse gases,” he concluded.

This is coming as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) and E-Waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON) are warming up among other members of stakeholders for the dialogue on December 15, 2023 with theme: You Can recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable.

The editor-in-chief, ITREALMS Media group, Remmy Nweke, Esq, disclosed these in Lagos at the weekend, stressing the importance of continuously creating awareness on the electronic waste as the nation deploys Fifth Generation (5G) networks, which has potential for influx of electronic devices and usage in Nigeria, than ever before.

Also, Nweke pointed out that the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) pass off from the likes of mobile phones, computers, TV-sets, and fridges among other electronic devices have become a set of fastest growing waste streams across the globe.

Nigeria, he noted, is particularly burdened by the WEEE with estimated 1.1 million tonnes of e-waste annually arising from both local and imported Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) under the guise of second hand or fairly used.

Experts, Nweke said, have been selected to give insights on e-Waste in Nigeria with regards to how individual digital citizens could contribute to the recycling of anything with a plug, battery or cable.

“ITREALMS Media in commemoration of the annual International E-waste Day (IeWD) 2023, is hosting a day discourse on ‘You Can recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable’ under its flagship ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue scheduled for Friday, December 15, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos,” he said.

He recalled that the 2023 edition is the fourth in the series of ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue and urged stakeholders and enthusiasts to join experts and learn more on best approach to recycling even the smallest of device tools and often neglected like discharging of mobile phone batteries and cables.