.. .Opens 23rd recycling hub at Lagos air force base
Sahara Group Foundation has opened its 23rd Sahara Go Recycling Hub at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos. The program has now recycled more than 1,000 tonnes of waste and supported over 2,000 livelihoods.
The foundation is the social impact arm of Sahara Group. It says the new hub is part of a push to turn recyclable waste from an environmental liability into an income source for households.
The hub also adds to a network of waste-recovery points aimed at host communities across Nigeria.
Chidilim Menakaya, director of the foundation, said at the commissioning ceremony that the group favors practical, community-focused projects with lasting environmental and economic returns.
“This initiative aligns with our sustainability and development priorities by transforming waste into valuable resources, reducing environmental impact, supporting climate action and creating livelihood opportunities,” Menakaya said. “It demonstrates how communities can advance environmental responsibility while promoting inclusive economic growth.”
Air Commodore M.A. Imam, commander of 651 Base Services Group, praised the foundation’s investment in the project. He said waste management in fast-growing communities can’t be solved by one party alone and called for collective action.
The ceremony drew representatives of Sahara Group and its foundation, the commandant of 651 Base Services Group, air force officials, community leaders, volunteers and residents.
Ikeja Electric also took part. Kingsley Okotie, the power distributor’s head of corporate communications, said the company was pleased to join the foundation in promoting responsible environmental stewardship and sustainability at the base.
Okotie said Ikeja Electric remains committed to building lasting relationships, improving the reliability of power supply and supporting the well-being of its customers, institutions, businesses and communities.
Sahara Go Recycling has operated since its launch as a collection-to-income chain. Jobs and earnings come from collecting, sorting, hauling and small community enterprises built around recyclable material. The foundation says the work has supported more than 2,000 people, both directly and indirectly.
Households that bring in recyclables earn from them, which is the “waste-to-wealth” approach the foundation emphasizes. It says partnerships and community engagement keep the program growing and encourage more sustainable habits.
Menakaya said collaboration is the main driver of that growth. “Through collaboration, innovation and community participation, we are driving long-term environmental impact while improving livelihoods and strengthening community ownership of sustainable practices,” she said.
The foundation plans to keep expanding Sahara Go Recycling. It ties the effort to its stated mission of building sustainable communities through what it calls EXTRApreneurship, its term for encouraging people to create additional income and enterprise beyond their primary activities.
The foundation did not give a timetable or location for further hubs in its announcement. It also did not disclose the cost of the Ikeja facility or the volume of material it is expected to handle.
Placing a hub inside a military installation brings a large, organized population into the program. Base personnel, families and surrounding residents become both suppliers of recyclables and potential earners.
