Tokunbo Fridges, Broken Promises: How E-Waste Risk Follows “Second-Hand” Electronics in Kano
On a busy day at Sabon Gari Market in Kano, northern Nigeria, Marian Shammah wasn’t shopping for an upgrade—she was trying to survive a fragile household budget. The 34-year-old cleaner said she needed a refrigerator, but the price of new appliances kept climbing beyond what she could afford.
For Shammah, a “fairly used” option felt like the only practical choice. She located a second-hand unit, paid 50,000 naira, and carried it home with hope that it would keep food safe and waste low. For weeks, it seemed like a workable bargain.
Yet about a month later, the equipment failed in a way that turned relief into loss. Shammah said only the top portion of the refrigerator worked, while the freezer section never cooled. Once that freezer stopped functioning, her food spoiled, her savings drained, and she returned to Sabon Gari to search for another device.
What she described is common in the market: the promise of durability is often tested quickly, especially when appliances arrive worn out or close to their final life. Shammah said she could have paid slightly more for a local new unit, but many Nigerians—she included—believe imported second-hand electronics from America and Europe “last longer” than new products sold locally.
But observers say this belief is colliding with a larger reality. Nigeria has become a major destination for discarded electronics from developed countries—items that are frequently near the end of life, sometimes completely nonfunctional, and potentially toxic due to hazardous materials inside.
Focus keyword: second-hand electronics in Kano and Nigeria’s e-waste crisis
Data cited by the United Nations suggests the scale of the problem is staggering. About 60,000 tonnes of used electronics enter Nigeria through key ports each year, and at least 15,700 tonnes are already damaged upon arrival, according to UN reporting.
A tracking study referenced by analysts also points to where much of the supply originates. Between 2015 and 2016, more than 85% of used electronics imported into Nigeria were traced to countries including Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, China, the United States, and Ireland.
The concern is not simply that the goods are used—it is that many imports may violate environmental rules. The Basel Convention, an international agreement controlling the movement of hazardous waste, restricts exports of toxic e-waste to nations with weaker environmental protections. Critics say loopholes allow “used” items to be shipped even when they behave like waste.
Across West Africa, the Basel Convention’s E-Waste Africa Programme estimates the region generates hundreds of thousands of tonnes of e-waste yearly, much of it linked to short-lifespan imports. In Nigeria, markets like Sabon Gari act as the final point where these products are sold—often with little testing and limited consumer protection.
The consequences stretch beyond broken refrigerators. E-waste is widely defined as discarded devices that still contain hazardous components—often heavy metals and chemicals—that can endanger both people and the environment. The World Health Organization has warned that used electrical and electronic equipment poses a growing public health threat across Africa, with Nigeria at the centre of the trade.
Health risks in the supply chain—and for the people living near it
Several imported cooling systems still contain refrigerants linked to serious health and environmental harm. In many cases, devices carry refrigerants such as CFC-based and HCFC-based chemicals including R-12 and R-22, substances banned in parts of Europe and the US due to ozone-depletion concerns and documented links to illnesses.
Because these chemicals can persist in the environment for decades, leaks from damaged units can create long-term pollution. Meanwhile, once appliances stop working, the burden frequently shifts to informal workers who dismantle equipment without protective gear.
In Kano, accounts from on-the-ground observers describe how recyclers may inhale toxic fumes while breaking down devices. Workers reported earning small weekly incomes—yet exposing themselves to coughing, chest pain, headaches, eye irritation, and breathing difficulties after burning cables or handling components.
Residents near dumpsites and casual recyclers are also at risk. Health surveys referenced in reporting indicate symptoms such as chronic headaches, skin irritation, and breathing issues, alongside more alarming concerns including miscarriages and neurological effects. Researchers argue these illnesses align with long-term exposure to toxic substances.
Local academic assessments have also flagged rising heavy metal levels in soils and drainage channels around areas in Kano connected to e-waste activity. A medical professional and spokesperson for the Nigerian Medical Association has warned that heavy metals and refrigerant gases affect breathing and renal organs, with heightened danger for children and pregnant women.
Profits over protection in Sabon Gari Market
While risks mount, the commercial logic of the trade continues. Inside Sabon Gari Market, second-hand electronics are advertised as affordable solutions for households and small businesses struggling with inflation. Many shoppers said they believe imported used appliances are sturdier than new ones—especially when a new refrigerator may cost far more than a used option.
Umar Hussaini, a seller in the market, told reporters that customers often choose second-hand because it can cost as little as half the price of new devices and may appear nearly identical. But when appliances fail, sellers frequently argue there is no warranty to cover repairs.
Hussaini said his experience also includes customer frustration. One buyer described purchasing a refrigerator that stopped cooling after three months, only to find the seller would not take responsibility. Food storage collapsed, daily purchases increased, and the household had to pay again—this time with no guarantee the next unit would last.
Small business owners may feel the impact even harder. Another trader described losing frozen stock after a used freezer failed quickly, affecting both money and customers. Broken items are sometimes discarded in nearby streets, and when they degrade further they can emit smoke or sparks.
Critics say this pattern highlights the need for tighter import controls, better certification, and mandatory guarantees. But enforcement remains inconsistent, and many transactions occur “as is.”
How exports and “loopholes” keep e-waste moving
Behind the market is a supply network linking collectors and exporters in Europe to sellers in Nigeria. Traders describe gathering devices from households, offices, hotels, hospitals, and informal weekend markets—then shipping them to Nigeria in large quantities.
But some claims suggest mixed quality shipments: working equipment may be packaged together with damaged items, with the burden transferred to buyers once the goods arrive. Shipping labels can also influence scrutiny. In some cases, consignments are reportedly categorized in ways that reduce detailed checks at ports.
Environmental analysts argue the system is structural, not random. They say exporting nations can benefit from mislabeling nonfunctional e-waste as “second-hand goods” or “for repair,” allowing unsafe materials to enter markets that lack strong safeguards. Meanwhile, enforcement gaps—along with limited inspection technology and corruption risks—make it harder to stop harmful shipments consistently.
NGO advocates add that Nigeria should strengthen border inspections and ensure responsibility is shared upstream, including requiring manufacturers and exporters to bear financial and legal responsibility for end-of-life handling. International cooperation, they argue, must move beyond optional guidelines into binding obligations.
For now, the pressure remains on consumers. Back at Sabon Gari, Shammah returned not because she trusted the system, but because she needed a refrigerator. She said she doesn’t fully trust second-hand appliances anymore, but she still has to buy something for her home.
This time, she said she is considering a new unit from a proper shop—even if it takes longer and costs more—because she cannot afford to lose money again to products that may already be failing before the purchase is completed.