Guardians of Gaia: The Unseen Eco-Warriors is an ongoing project exploring the unsung heroes of our planet—waste Miners. Often overlooked and stigmatised, these individuals are the frontline soldiers in our battle against climate change. Their battlefield? The streets, gutters, and landfills of their African cities tirelessly work to salvage what society discards.

Each year, Nigeria generates 32 million tonnes of waste, of which a staggering 90% end up in landfills, incinerated, or illegally dumped. This waste contributes significantly to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The waste Miners, however, strive to reduce this impact by recycling 10% of the waste, venturing into every corner of the community—primarily the landfills—a task often unappreciated due to societal biases.

I am exploring the Olusosun Landfill in Lagos, Nigeria, the largest in Africa, which spans over 40 acres of land and receives at least 10,000 tons of waste daily. More than 12,000 waste miners live and work there, many of whom are migrants from northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries like Niger and Chad.

Through intimate visual documentation, I can delve into their daily lives, exploring the socioeconomic and political aspects of their work and living conditions. This project aims to showcase their crucial role, humanise their experiences, challenge the discrimination they face, and acknowledge these eco-warriors as the saviours they genuinely are.