In Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, a community-led initiative is tackling the country’s mounting waste management crisis. The CleanSweep project, run by Feexet Limited, has been working to address illegal dumping hotspots and waste evacuation gaps through community action and digital innovation. The project’s impact is being felt in communities like Dogongada, where roadside dumping was a daily sight, blocking walkways and providing breeding sites for mosquitoes, increasing health risks.
Nigeria produces approximately 42 million tonnes of waste annually, with only 19% being collected or managed properly. The remainder accumulates on streets, waterways, and informal dumping sites, exposing residents to diseases and environmental hazards. Despite government efforts to prohibit littering and establish regulatory authorities, rapid urban growth and limited infrastructure have hindered progress.
CleanSweep has emerged as a youth-led platform that links resident reporting to organized clean-ups and recycling partners. The project’s mobile application enables residents to submit reports of polluted sites, which are then verified and addressed through coordinated clean-ups and waste evacuation. Between December 2024 and June 2025, the app logged 324 waste reports, resulting in six verified clean-ups and the mobilization of 540 volunteers.
The project’s impact is evident in communities like Dogongada, where residents have noticed a significant improvement in their environment. Temitayo Olatunde, a resident turned volunteer, credits CleanSweep with reshaping how the community treats its environment. “When they came with their team and started cleaning our area free of charge, my friends and I volunteered to help,” he said. The clean-up has been maintained through follow-up visits led by local volunteers, who continue to monitor the area and discourage dumping.
While the model has yielded visible community results, it faces structural challenges, including financing and regulatory approvals. The initiative is currently self-funded, and securing grants and partnerships is crucial to scaling up operations. Additionally, obtaining approvals from local authorities can be a hurdle, delaying or halting planned activities.
Despite these challenges, CleanSweep’s model offers a workable approach to addressing Nigeria’s waste management crisis. By leveraging digital reporting and community action, the project is building a pathway from community reporting to visible action. As the project looks to the future, its ability to shorten the time from report to action and track the sustainability of cleaned sites will be crucial in creating a lasting impact. With its innovative approach and community-led initiatives, CleanSweep is paving the way for a more effective and sustainable waste management system in Nigeria.
