In Lagos, scavengers pick discarded wigs from dumpsites and resell them, mainly to markets in Northern Nigeria. Experts warn of severe health risks, including infections and chemical exposure.
Lagos Scavengers Resell Used Wigs from Dumpsites Amid Serious Health Risks investigation
How Scavengers in Lagos Pick and Resell Used Wigs from Dumpsites
In Lagos, West Africa’s most populous city, almost nothing is considered waste especially by those who know how to find value in discarded items.
Despite the clear health and safety risks involved, many residents prioritize money-making opportunities above everything else. Every year, Lagos generates an estimated 5.46 million tonnes of waste. Yet, a surprising amount of this waste somehow finds its way back into the market.
One shocking discovery: used wigs, dumped by Lagos residents, are being scavenged, cleaned, and resold often far from where they were found.
Scavengers Turn Waste to Wealth
Healthwise investigation uncovered the hidden trade after visiting three major dumpsites: Olusosun in Ojota, Dumping Ground in Ikorodu, and Solous in Igando.
At these sites, scavengers were seen sorting through piles of waste to pick out used wigs, among other discarded items, which they later repackaged for sale. While these wigs don’t have much market value in Lagos itself, they are reportedly in high demand in northern parts of Nigeria.
A young man sorting through the wigs at the Ikorodu dumpsite confirmed this to our reporter. He explained that while the wigs are almost worthless in Lagos, they sell very well in the north.
“We send them to the north where women buy and use them,” he said in Pidgin English, surprised that our reporter even asked what they were used for.
From Trash to Trend
Many of the wigs are lightly cleaned sometimes treated with oils or hair straighteners before being transported. At roadside markets, they are displayed attractively, tempting unsuspecting buyers with their texture and appearance.
Unfortunately, most customers have no idea that the wigs they are running their fingers through came from dumpsites.
While these scavenged wigs may look appealing, they carry hidden dangers: germs, parasites, and chemical residues, all posing serious risks to buyers’ health.
A Thriving Underground Market
At the Ewu-Elepe dump in Ikorodu, known locally as “Dumping,” makeshift shops run by scavengers offer a range of goods picked from waste — from scrap metal to broken electronics to used clothes.
“Don’t be surprised. Many okrika (used clothes) sellers come here to buy,” she said. “They wash and resize them before selling in markets, especially around Sabo in Ikorodu.”
She explained that while used clothes are often resold within Lagos, used wigs are mostly shipped to parts of Niger State where they have strong demand.
Later, when our reporter posed as a potential new trader, a woman buying clothes at the dumpsite advised him on how to pick the best items to resell. She said women’s clothes could be bought for as little as ₦200 to ₦500, while men’s clothes sold for ₦700 to ₦1,000, depending on quality.
However, when we tried to get comments from northern traders involved in the used clothing business, they declined to speak.
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Danger Lurking in Discarded Wigs
Skin experts are warning that wearing wigs scavenged from dumpsites could lead to serious health problems.
Consultant Physician and Dermatologist, Dr. Roli Madubuko from the University of Benin, explained that second-hand wigs can carry dangerous fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
“One major risk is Tinea capitis, commonly known as ringworm, a fungal infection of the scalp,” she said. “Wearing an infested wig could also lead to bacterial infections like folliculitis, which causes painful boils, or even abscesses.”
She also warned that scavenged wigs could carry lice and mites that cause severe itching and irritation.
Madubuko added that chemicals used to treat or dye wigs could trigger allergic reactions, leading to conditions like contact dermatitis. Poorly fitting wigs, she explained, could also cause scalp irritation, hair loss, and even long-term scalp damage.
Another expert, Dr. Nkiruka Onodugo, a Consultant Dermatologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, emphasized that second-hand wigs could cause parasitic, bacterial, and fungal infections.
According to her, even attempts to disinfect scavenged wigs could expose users to harmful chemical residues.
“Every wig you see now is a suspect,” she said. “Women should be very careful. It’s better to stick to your natural hair than expose yourself to infections just for fashion.”
Chemical Dangers in Synthetic Hair
A 2022 study by Nigerian researchers Dike Ijere, J. N. Okereke, and E. U. Ezeji also found worrying signs in synthetic hair products. Published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health, the study revealed that synthetic hair samples contained dangerous pesticide chemicals above safe limits.
According to the researchers, prolonged exposure to these chemicals can cause serious health problems, including asthma, cancers, infertility, birth defects, and organ damage.
They urged users of synthetic wigs and hairpieces to consider these risks carefully.
Government Silence
Efforts to get a response from the Federal Ministry of Health about this dangerous trend were unsuccessful. Calls and WhatsApp messages to Dr. Segun Agboye, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
