By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria adopted circular economy as a pivotal strategy for sustainable development, revolutionizing key sectors and fostering economic growth.
Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment disclosed this at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He was speaking during a session titled: Empowering Interregional Partnerships for Circular Economy Transition: Towards a Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Future.
Represented by Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),
the Minister highlighted the transformative impact of circular economy practices on Nigeria’s construction, industrial, and energy sectors.
“Nigeria has successfully integrated recycled materials into construction projects and industrial products while repurposing industrial by-products as valuable inputs,” Lawal noted.
“Waste-to-energy solutions are also playing a significant role in improving resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions,” he noted further.
Central to this transformation, according to the minister, is Nigeria’s implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, which mandates manufacturers to take accountability for the lifecycle of their products, from design to post-consumer waste management.
The minister emphasized that this approach has created jobs, spurred innovation, and opened pathways for sustainable economic opportunities.
To address challenges such as non-compliance, limited recycling infrastructure, and insufficient enforcement capacity, Nigeria, Lawal said, is scaling up regulatory frameworks, investing in infrastructure development, and enhancing stakeholder engagement.
The minister underscored the importance of interregional partnerships in accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
He said as a founding member of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and a partner in the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), Nigeria has fostered cross-border collaboration in knowledge sharing, technology investment, and capacity building.
“These partnerships have enabled Nigeria to adopt scalable, context-specific solutions that address the country’s unique challenges while contributing to the global fight against climate change,” he added.
The adoption of circular economy principles, the minister noted, is not just an environmental initiative but a blueprint for sustainable economic transformation.
With a strengthened regulatory framework and enhanced international collaboration, Nigeria, he said, is setting an example for other developing nations striving to balance industrialization with climate resilience and sustainability.
As COP29 continues, Nigeria’s circular economy success story stands as a testament to the potential of innovative, partnership-driven approaches to achieve sustainable development goals.