NIGERIA – The federal government is partnering with the European Union (EU) to reduce environmental waste in the country.

Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, presented this initiative in Abuja during the 2024 International Day of Zero Waste event.

Lawal highlighted that Nigeria currently produces approximately 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, underscoring the vast circular economy opportunities within the waste management sector that can spur job creation.

Speaking on the significance of the International Day of Zero Waste, Lawal emphasized its role in promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, steering societal behavior towards circularity, and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through zero-waste initiatives.

He stressed the importance of maximizing recycling efforts, minimizing waste generation, and rethinking product lifecycles to prioritize reuse, repair, and recycling.

Lawal emphasized that robust waste management strategies can mitigate the triple planetary crisis, safeguard the environment, bolster food security, and enhance human health and well-being.

Addressing financial challenges, Lawal highlighted the substantial economic potential within the waste sector, citing projections that the value of recyclables in Africa could grow from US$8 billion in 2014 to US$60 billion by 2050.

Zissimos Vergos, Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, reinforced the urgency of addressing waste pollution, linking it to the broader triple planetary crisis encompassing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Vergos warned that without swift action, global municipal solid waste generation could skyrocket to 3.8 billion tonnes annually by 2050.

In parallel efforts, Nigeria is launching the ‘Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling’ project, aimed at enhancing battery recycling standards, elevating labor and environmental practices, and fostering sustainable trade in raw materials.

This initiative is particularly crucial given Nigeria’s prominent lead-acid battery recycling industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The project, in collaboration with Nigerian civil society, metal processing, and solar industries, alongside the Oeko-Institut, aims to establish cooperative approaches for responsible battery recycling.

It involves capacity-building efforts, including environmental protection and occupational safety training for recycling plant managers, as well as the development of regulatory frameworks in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.

Supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and facilitated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, this initiative underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing sustainable waste management practices and circular economy principles in Nigeria.

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