Scavenging to survive in Lagos
A large expanse of land designated by the Lagos state government as a dump site in Ojoto area, serves as a treasure trove for many youths.
It is a vast area overlooking the highway through which motorists drive into and out of Lagos. It is also the area where all the refuse gathered in Lagos is dumped. On passing by the highway, one easily perceives the profound smell coming from the decomposition of several items.
It is easy to detect the movement of people in the area, mostly in a bent position, with sacks strapped on their backs, or by their sides, picking and throwing items inside the sacks.
It was still within in the early hours of the day, Umar Sale, 22 was going through a recently off loaded refuse, at the site. His search, like that of an archaeological excavation- was meticulous, but fast at the same time.
He was wearing a pair of dirty white hand gloves on his right hand with a small metal rod, the instrument he used to turn over the refuse.
His search wasn’t in vain, it paid. Intermittently, he paused to pick many items, which he systematically threw inside a sack by his side.
Shortly after, two other young men joined Umar. They engaged themselves in the same search , picking and throwing items inside their sacks.
Though not up to a dozen, but like a pride of Lions, the three moved from one place in the search for more of the hidden treasures.
Dozens of other young and middle aged persons are found in the area engaged in the same search. But this trio move in a group, even though each one of them searches and keeps discovered items on his own.
In this modern age, many unskilled people rely on jobs that require no skills to earn a living, and sometimes even engage in odd jobs in order to survive.
“So many people are doing so many things. In most cases you find it very difficult to get a job, and that means you have to use your own initiative to survive, by doing something that will get you an income,” Umar said.
What Umar and his two colleagues are always on the lookout for is not too difficult to predict. These are mostly household items, which many people discard as unwanted items.
“They are items you can find in the house, empty bottles of water, empty perfume bottles, clothes that are not tattered, iron rods, and even handsets that people throw away thinking they are faulty. We pick anything that we estimate to be useful, either to us personally or to our buyers,” 23 year old Abubakar said.
According to Umar, one could come across anything during the search. “You know people throw away things sometimes without even looking closely, for instance look at this wrist watch,” Umar said, stretching his left hand showing a gold coloured lady’s wristwatch, “it’s still working but the setting pin is faulty, but I can make it work again,” he added.
Items like iron rods according to them fetch more money especially when you have them in bulk.
“The Iron rod is one of the most precious items we are looking for. At times we have customers that will even give us money in advance to gather them,” Sunusi said.
He added “the good thing about this business is that it is hard to come out and go back empty handed. Somehow, you must find something valuable,” he said.
A significant number of the items gathered by these youngsters can easily be recycled. This provides an available market for their pick.
Usually, the three set out as early as 6am to launch their search and head for home at dusk, our correspondent gathered, but taking time out to rest is as important as the search.
“We are very much of aware of the importance of resting, so we take some time to relax and eat some food supplied by the fast food sellers by the roadside,” said Abubakar.
But like every other human endeavour, the search through refuse has its own challenges. Apart from the exposure to dirty environment that requires a close watch on one’s health, a valuable item seen by two or three different people
They are items you can find in the house, empty bottles of water, empty perfume bottles, clothes that are not tattered, iron rods, and even handsets that people throw away thinking they are faulty.
at the same moment, usually results in a scramble ,and if care is not taken a disagreement over who first saw the item.
“It is common to see two or more people arguing over a certain item, but somehow the matter gets resolved, either by one of the parties sacrificing the item, or the proceeds are shared depending on its value,” Sunusi said.
Although some people may shrink away from the idea of having to earn a living from spending the entire day picking from refuse, these youngsters, our correspondent observed, appeared not only to be quite contented with what they do, but are willing to talk about this way of making a living.
“There are many illegal ways of getting money, but we would rather continue to spend every day of our lives dipping our hands in the refuse in the name of earning a living ,than to spend a day behind bars,” Umar said.
According to them, there is no need to jump on the fast train of the “get rich quick” syndrome.
“There is no hurry in life,” Abubakar concluded.