In Lagos, the most populous city in West Africa, nothing is a waste in the hands of those who can see value in it.

Despite inherent risks, particularly those that have to do with human safety and public health, when the opportunity to make cash or profit presents itself, the love of money is prioritised above all.

While the city generates an estimated 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, some of these wastes often find their way back to the market.

Among these arrays of wastes that find their way back to market include used wigs which have been disposed of by residents across the state, investigations by PUNCH Healthwise revealed.

Our correspondent who visited three dumpsites in Lagos, including Olusosun in Ojota, Dumping in Ikorodu and Solous in Igando, saw how the scavengers sorted the used wigs and repackaged them for onward transfer out of the dump.

It was gathered that while the market for secondhand wigs, particularly those picked from the dumps, is not thriving in Lagos, it is a booming venture in the far northern part of the country.

But despite the opportunities, senior health experts warned that the unseen health risks associated with the practice far outweigh whatever economic value such endeavours would create.

Underhand trades

In the heart of Ikorodu’s dumpsite in Ewu-Elepe, popularly known as Dumping, where the air is thick with decay and the ground littered with waste, lies the booming market for different items picked from the facility.

The scavengers and businessmen nestled in the several makeshift erected on the dumpsite have created an enterprise in what others have thrown away.

These include scraps of metal, tattered clothes, and broken appliances. But a rather unusual sight caught the attention of our correspondent – used wigs, tangled and matted, which were being sorted by a young man.

When approached by our correspondent, the man who refused to disclose his name, told our correspondent that the used wig market is booming in the north.

He explained that while the used wigs are underpriced in Lagos, they move well in the north and have commercial value.

“It is being packed for onward transportation to the north. We will send it to the north and it will be sold out in no distant time.

“Unlike in Lagos where it is underpriced and doesn’t move well, it is well loved in the north and that is why we prefer transporting to the north to sell,” he said.

When our correspondent asked what the wigs are used for in the north, he looked bewildered, wondering why I had to ask him such.

“Na woman dey use am nah. They buy and wear it,” he said in pidgin English.

Scavenged beauty

PUNCH Healthwise gathered that for a fraction of the price of new hair, customers often claim their secondhand beauty, unknown to them the unseen dangers lurking in each strand.

Unaware of the wigs’ origins, shoppers run their fingers through the strands, often wowed by their texture when they are displayed on roadside markets in the evening and at night.

The wigs, which must have been reborn by a bit of oil and straightener, are reintroduced back to society and the buyers adorn their heads with the lush hair picked from waste.

Beneath the scavenged wigs lie unseen germs and parasites that pose a threat to the skin and health of the new owner.

When our correspondent posed as a customer and approached a food vendor on the dumpsite on why the scavengers were trading in used wigs and clothes, she said it was happening because there was a ready market for it.

Popularly known as Iya Tinubu in the dump for being an unapologetic supporter of President Bola Tinubu, the food vendor explained that some of the scavenged items are being resold in some roadside markets in Ikorodu.

According to her, many retailers come to the dump to buy clothes and wigs and other things picked by the scavengers across markets in Ikorodu.

“Don’t be surprised about what you are seeing. Many people selling okrika (local name for used clothes) come here to pick them.

“They come here and buy it in bulk, they wash it and resize it sometimes before they go back to selling it to people.

“Look at that woman (pointing our correspondent to a woman selecting clothes from dealers in the dump) she will sell what she’s picking right now in the evening in the Sabo area of Ikorodu,” the food vendor said. 

Probing further, our correspondent asked about the wigs, she explained that if people can buy the clothes picked from the dump, wigs are not an exception.

“Why are you sounding this surprised? Is this your first time here? There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a business and people patronise it well and you can still see the woman I showed you shopping there.

“Though mostly, the wigs are transported to the north. I heard it is taken to an area in Niger State where it is well regarded and has commercial value,” Iya Tinubu told our correspondent.

Not satisfied, our correspondent approached the retailer that the food vendor had pointed to him, posing as someone who just wanted to start the business.

The woman, who appeared to be in her late 30s, advised our correspondent to ensure he picks the best from the bales, adding that customers also look for the best among clothes on display when they get to the market.

 “The prices also vary. Women’s clothes are not as expensive as men’s. From N200 to N500 you’d see good ones for women while men’s own ranges from N700 to N1000 upward.

“You know everything is now expensive. The prices used to be lower than these before but the recent economic reality has also affected this business,” she said while sifting through the bales of dirty clothes with her bare hands.

However, when our correspondent approached some of the northerners selling used clothes to the retailers, they declined to comment.

Used wigs users risk fungal, bacterial infections — Dermatologists

Meanwhile, skin health experts have warned that people who buy and wear wigs picked from the dumpsites are at risk of several health complications, including fungal and bacterial infections.

The dermatologists, who spoke separately with PUNCH Healthwise, explained that there were several side effects to wearing things picked on the dump, adding that such items would predispose individuals to health risks which can greatly impact their skin’s health.

A Consultant Physician and Dermatologist, Dr Roli Madubuko, explained that using wigs scavenged from dumpsites is associated with several dermatological consequences.

Madubuko, who is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Benin, Edo State, listed the health risks to include infections, infestations, and allergic reactions.

She said, “One of the primary health risks is infection, which could be either fungal or bacterial. These wigs may harbour fungi and bacteria that can lead to conditions like ringworm. In dermatology, we call this Tinea capitis, but most people know it as ringworm. In some parts of South-South Nigeria, it is locally referred to as Lapalapa. This is a fungal infection that affects the scalp.

“Bacterial infections can also occur, leading to scalp boils, a condition known as folliculitis. These appear as painful, inflamed lumps on the scalp. If these boils become severely infected, they can develop into abscesses. Another bacterial infection that may arise is impetigo, which presents as fluid-filled blisters on the scalp.”

According to her, the wigs may also harbour head lice and mites and these parasites can survive without human contact for up to three weeks, making it possible for them to remain on discarded wigs.

“When someone wears an infested wig, they may experience persistent itching, redness, and irritation of the scalp,” she said.

The consultant dermatologists explained that many wigs contain chemicals used for dyeing, treatment, or cleaning, adding that they can predispose users to some health risks.

“Some of these chemicals can cause skin irritation, leading to a condition known as contact dermatitis. This is a form of skin reaction triggered by allergens in the wig material.

“Wigs picked from dumpsites may have been designed for specific head sizes. If they don’t fit properly, they may cause friction, leading to irritation, redness, and in some cases, hair loss. Additionally, tight wigs can obstruct blood flow to the scalp, affecting hair growth and causing long-term scalp damage,” Madubuko added.

Also, a Consultant Dermatologist at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Dr Nkiruka Onodugo, said the side effects of such practices are enormous, warning that women should be careful of the wigs they purchase.

“You’re going to predispose yourself to infections, fungal infections, bacterial infections, even parasitic infections because some of these parasites will live in these wigs,” Onodugo said.

According to her, even the substances used to disinfect these wigs (for those who even try to disinfect them) may actually be a source of irritation for the users.

“This means that every wig you see in the market now is a suspect because sometimes, you don’t even know which one was scavenged and which one was not scavenged. So, it’s really a very bad situation.

“I think every woman should be very careful. We should be much more careful about what we put on our heads. Don’t just go and buy anything from anywhere, all in the name of fashion, put it on your head, and expose yourself to all sorts of risks, all in the name of keeping up with the trend. It doesn’t make sense. You’ll be better off with your natural hair,” the consultant dermatologist advised.

A study by Nigerian researchers, Dike Ijere, J. N. Okereke and E. U. Ezeji titled ‘Potential hazards associated with wearing of synthetic hairs in Nigeria’ in 2022 and published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health found that there are contaminants hiding in synthetic hairs.

“We found that the synthetic hair samples were contaminated with 11 chemical compounds which are pesticides. The levels of these chemicals found in the hair exceeded permissible limits, making them dangerous to health

“Exposure to the toxic chemicals that we found in synthetic hair can have serious health consequences. Apart from damage to vital organs, they can cause infertility, birth defects, asthma, bronchitis and cancers. They also lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, endocrine system disruption and respiratory diseases, among others.

“People who wear synthetic hair should consider these risks, especially as chemical substances and heavy metals can be harmful even at low levels,” the researchers said.

However, efforts to get a reaction from the Ministry of Health proved abortive.

Calls to a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Segun Agboye, were not picked and messages sent to him on WhatsApp were yet to be responded to as of time of filing this report.