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Why is China exporting e-waste to Nigeria?

Scientists have found that China is exporting 20,000 tonnes of electronic waste to Nigeria every year. The new study is the first to show e-waste coming from Asia to Africa. Researchers monitored two ports in Lagos and found that almost 70% - 41,500 tonnes - of the e-waste reaching Lagos arrived inside vehicles destined for Nigeria's second hand auto market, while another 18,300 tonnes arrived in shipping containers. Professor Percy Onianwa, one of the authors of the report, explains more.

(Image: Electrical and electronic waste in transit, Credit: UNU & BCCC-Africa.)

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2 minutes