How Lagos Scavengers Resell Wigs from Dumpsites

In Lagos, West Africa’s most populous city, waste is rarely just waste. For those who can spot hidden value, discarded items become lucrative opportunities—despite the health risks involved. With Lagos producing an estimated 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, some of it finds its way back to the market, including used wigs thrown out by residents.

A visit to three major dumpsites — Olusosun in Ojota, Dumping in Ikorodu, and Solous in Igando — revealed how scavengers sort, clean, and repackage used wigs for resale. While secondhand wigs struggle to attract buyers in Lagos, the market for them thrives in the far north of Nigeria. Dealers at these dumpsites package the wigs and transport them northward, where they are sold as affordable alternatives to new hairpieces.

At the Ewu-Elepe dumpsite in Ikorodu, also called Dumping, a bustling market has emerged among heaps of decaying waste. Scavengers trade in scrap metal, tattered clothes, broken appliances, and now, used wigs. A young dealer sorting through a pile of wigs told our correspondent that while Lagosians are not enthusiastic about used wigs, northern buyers eagerly purchase them. “It is being packed for onward transportation to the north,” he explained in pidgin English. “Na woman dey use am nah. They buy and wear it.”

Once collected, the wigs are washed, treated with oil and straighteners, and later displayed at roadside markets. Shoppers, often unaware of the wigs’ origin, run their fingers through the strands, attracted by their texture and low prices. Yet hidden dangers lurk within these scavenged beauty products.

A food vendor at the dumpsite, known as Iya Tinubu, confirmed that many traders frequent the site to buy clothes and wigs for resale in local markets. She pointed out a woman picking clothes who later sells them in Ikorodu’s Sabo area. “Don’t be surprised about what you are seeing,” she said. “Many people selling okrika come here to pick them. They wash and resize them before selling.”

Another retailer explained that women’s clothing could cost between N200 and N500 per piece, while men’s items ranged from N700 upwards. The woman, busy sorting through bales of clothes with her bare hands, noted that economic hardship had pushed more people into this trade.

However, health experts warn that the dangers of wearing wigs from dumpsites far outweigh the economic benefits. Consultant Physician and Dermatologist, Dr. Roli Madubuko of the University of Benin, warned that wigs retrieved from waste sites pose serious health risks, including fungal and bacterial infections. Conditions such as ringworm (Tinea capitis), scalp boils (folliculitis), and impetigo can result from contaminated wigs. Madubuko also noted the risk of head lice and mites, which can survive for weeks without human contact.

The dermatologist further explained that chemicals in synthetic wigs can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and even hair loss. Improperly fitting wigs, she said, could obstruct blood flow to the scalp, damaging hair growth over time.

Dr. Nkiruka Onodugo, a Consultant Dermatologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, echoed similar concerns. She urged women to be cautious, warning that parasites and chemical residues in wigs could lead to severe infections and long-term health issues. “Every wig you see in the market now is a suspect,” Onodugo said, stressing the importance of natural hair over risky fashion trends.

A 2022 study published in the *Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health* also highlighted the dangers of synthetic hair, revealing the presence of toxic chemical compounds at levels exceeding safe limits. Researchers found that prolonged exposure to these chemicals could lead to infertility, birth defects, respiratory diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Health on the matter were unsuccessful. Calls to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Segun Agboye, were not answered, and WhatsApp messages sent to him remained unread at the time of filing this report.