Grace Ashiru
Nigerian waste-management company Ororo Waste Management Limited has secured a commitment of up to $1 million from Rising Tide Africa to expand its used cooking oil collection network across the country.
The investment, structured through a corporate note, is intended to finance new collection infrastructure, purchases of used cooking oil from suppliers and operating costs as the company scales. Ororo received the first tranche on September 16, 2026, with additional tranches potentially available through December 16.
Ororo currently operates hubs serving Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and plans to expand its network to more than 40 collection hubs across Nigeria over the next five years. The company collects used cooking oil from markets, households, restaurants and institutions before supplying certified material to international biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel markets.
The business uses digital systems, including GPS tracking and QR codes, to provide traceability across its collection and export chain. It is also certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification framework for eligible waste-based feedstocks.
Nigeria is estimated to generate around 840,000 metric tonnes of used cooking oil annually, while more than 95% remains outside formal collection channels. Poorly managed waste oil can create environmental problems when discarded into drainage systems, while unsafe reuse can also create health concerns.
Ororo currently has about 5,000 formally paid collectors in its network. Under its longer-term expansion targets, the company aims to increase that figure to more than 200,000 by 2031, with women expected to account for at least half of new market-level collection points. It is also targeting annual certified used cooking oil collection of more than 150,000 metric tonnes.
Rising Tide Africa, a women-led pan-African angel investment network, is backing the expansion as Ororo works to build a more structured collection system for a waste stream that remains largely informal.
By increasing collection capacity and working capital, Ororo is positioning itself to capture more used cooking oil for export into renewable-fuel markets while creating additional income opportunities for collectors across Nigeria.
