Informal Sector E-waste Management in Aba Urban, South-eastern Nigeria: Assessment of Quantities Handled and Environmental-health Impacts

Rapid urbanization and the growing trade in second-hand electronics have intensified informal e-waste recycling in Nigerian cities. While coastal hubs such as Lagos and Port Harcourt have received considerable research attention, inland secondary hubs like Aba remain understudied despite their expanding role in national e-waste flows. This study aimed to assess the scale, practices, and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in Aba. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 254 respondents, key informant interviews, GPS-tagged field observations, and volumetric waste assessments across five purposively selected hotspots. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS, and qualitative transcripts were thematically coded. Results showed that Ngwa Road, Ariaria Market, and Port Harcourt Road processed the highest volumes of hazardous waste, with cathode ray tubes and mobile phones dominating the waste stream. Informal recovery methods included manual dismantling, open-air cable burning, and occasional acid leaching, with minimal use of personal protective equipment. A risk-rating matrix classified 61% of workers as high-risk, with common health symptoms including respiratory distress, skin irritation, and eye discomfort. Spatial analysis indicated that most e-waste activities clustered within 2km of major commercial corridors, increasing local pollutant loads. The findings reveal significant gaps in Extended Producer Responsibility enforcement in inland Nigeria and underscore the need for targeted remediation, subsidized protective equipment, and integration of informal actors into regulated collection systems. By linking site-specific data from Aba to wider West African trends, the study provides evidence to support policy interventions aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, 12, and 13.