Plateau State
Plastic pollution and encroachment at the Liberty (Lamingo) Water Dam
Plastic dumping, illegal mining and farming around the Liberty Water Dam at Lamingo in Jos are contaminating a raw-water source for the city and driving up the cost of treating water for the Jos Water Services Corporation. Because the reservoir feeds directly into the city's drinking-water supply, pollution here reaches households right across Jos. Accumulating plastic waste threatens both water quality and surrounding biodiversity, and the pressure is continuous – cleanups clear old waste, but fresh dumping and encroachment keep refilling the dam with plastic and sediment. Nearby hotspots such as the Jos Wildlife Park, Maiadiko Market and the Abattoir Market feed the problem and have been targeted in the same cleanup drives.
Evidence and current condition
- The Liberty (Lamingo) Dam serves as a raw-material water source for the Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC), so pollution of the reservoir directly affects the city's drinking-water supply.
- Indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste around the dam, alongside illegal mining and farming, is contaminating the water and raising the cost of treatment, according to the water corporation's management.
- Plastic pollution at the dam threatens both water quality and surrounding biodiversity, prompting cleanup and behaviour-change campaigns.
- Pollution pressure is continuous: cleanups address accumulated waste, but ongoing dumping and encroachment mean the reservoir keeps taking in new plastic and sediment.
- Related plastic hotspots feeding the problem include nearby sites such as the Jos Wildlife Park, Maiadiko Market and the Abattoir Market, all targeted in the same cleanup drive.
Coordinates
| Area | Latitude | Longitude | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty (Lamingo) Dam | 9.9330° | 8.9520° | Lamingo axis, Jos North – raw-water source |
| Jos Wildlife Park | 9.9250° | 8.9450° | Adjacent cleanup site |
| Maiadiko Market | 9.9200° | 8.9000° | Plastic-source cleanup point |
| Abattoir Market | 9.9180° | 8.8950° | Plastic-source cleanup point |
Required interventions
- A September 2025 cleanup of the Liberty Water Dam by the NGO Shelton Climate Awareness Initiative (SCAI) in collaboration with the Global Plastic Action Partnership, aimed at tackling plastic pollution and conserving biodiversity.
- Awareness and behaviour-change campaigns educating residents on reducing, reusing and recycling single-use plastics around the dam and city markets.
- Extension of cleanup activity to connected plastic-source sites including the Jos Wildlife Park, Maiadiko Market and the Abattoir Market.
- Enforcement against dumping, illegal mining and farming in the dam catchment to protect the raw-water source and reduce treatment costs.
- Alignment with Nigeria's National Plastic Action Roadmap under the Global Plastic Action Partnership for sustained plastic-waste management.
Additional proof sources
- 1. EnviroNews Nigeria – “Group cleans Plateau dam to tackle plastic pollution” (SCAI / Global Plastic Action Partnership cleanup of the Liberty Water Dam, 20 September 2025).
https://www.environewsnigeria.com/group-cleans-plateau-dam-to-tackle-plastic-pollution/ - 2. Realnews Magazine – “NGO cleans Plateau dam to tackle plastic pollution”.
https://realnewsmagazine.net/ngo-cleans-plateau-dam-to-tackle-plastic-pollution/
Funding and support needed
Documentation is being prepared for implementation support and community participation.
Covers: Catchment cleanup, recycling and behaviour-change campaigns, catchment enforcement and raw-water quality monitoring
Potential funding partners
Institutions aligned with this work
These are potential alignment examples, not confirmed funding commitments. Partner documentation will be updated as conversations progress.
How others can help
- • Donate to support field documentation, community workshops and restoration work.
- • Partner with the project for research collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- • Volunteer for data review, outreach or event support where available.