Nigeria leads African push to modernize lead-acid battery recycling

NIGERIA – The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with development partners and environmental organizations, has launched a concerted effort to upgrade the lead-acid battery recycling sector across Africa.

The move aims to address mounting health and environmental risks associated with the unsafe disposal and handling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs).

This commitment was underscored during opening a two-day International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector held on March 18, 2025, in Abuja.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) organized the event in partnership with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV) and was supported by international stakeholders.

In his keynote address, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, stressed the urgent need to formalize and improve battery recycling practices across the continent.

He warned that unsafe ULAB recycling has led to significant soil, water, and air contamination, exposing communities, especially children and vulnerable populations, to toxic substances like lead, cadmium, and sulphuric acid.

“Proper management of these batteries is no longer optional—it’s essential for safeguarding public health and the environment,” Lawal said, calling for greater investment in formal recycling systems and sustainable waste management policies.

Dr Innocent Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, described the conference as a platform to shape the future of battery recycling in Africa.

“Lead-acid batteries are critical to industries like telecommunications, energy storage, and transport,” he noted. “But if improperly handled, they pose immense environmental and health risks.”

Rep. Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, highlighted the economic potential of responsible recycling, describing it as a “pathway to transforming waste into wealth.”

Meanwhile, in Lagos, the Green Janitors Sustainable Initiative marked Global Recycling Day by calling on Nigerians to embrace everyday recycling habits as part of a broader circular economy strategy.

In a statement, Executive Director Alhaji Abdulsalam Ashade warned of the growing strain on Earth’s natural resources.

“Every year, the planet yields billions of tons of resources—but these are finite. Recycling is not just a lifestyle choice; it’s an urgent necessity,” he said.

He cited global data showing that recycling currently saves over 700 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually, a figure projected to reach one billion tons by 2030.

“Each recycled bottle, piece of paper, or plastic container brings us closer to a healthier, more sustainable world,” Ashade said.

Urging citizens to stop viewing waste as disposable, Ashade called on the public to see it as “a chance to preserve, repurpose, and restore” in the face of intensifying climate change impacts.

“The last decade was the hottest on record. If we don’t act swiftly, we will face an even more devastating climate crisis. But by recycling, we take a stand—for the planet and future generations,” he concluded.

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