By Abdullahi Lukman
The Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Professor Innocent Barikor, has called on manufacturers to take full responsibility for the environmental impact of their products, from production to end-of-life.
His call came during the official launch of the PROTEGO project—an international initiative aimed at curbing marine plastic pollution in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at a stakeholder workshop on Wednesday held in Abuja, Prof. Barikor stressed the importance of shifting from traditional waste disposal models to a circular economy, where producers plan for the entire life cycle of their products.
“We are advancing a new model where producers are held accountable from cradle to grave,” he said.
“If you’re manufacturing electronic devices like computers, you must take responsibility not just for selling the product, but for what happens to it when it is no longer useful,” he warned, stating, “That’s how we provoke a true circular economy.”
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) and led by adelphi gGmbH, the project is being implemented in both Nigeria and Ghana.
Mr. Gabriel Onyebuolise, Program and Strategy Manager at Waste Africa, Nigeria, described PROTEGO as a timely intervention that aims to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean.
The project focuses on improving plastic waste management, supporting circular economy practices, building local capacity, increasing public awareness, and driving policy reform.
“The Gulf of Guinea is under serious threat from plastic pollution,” Onyebuolise said.
“PROTEGO is designed to tackle this issue at its root by strengthening systems and encouraging sustainable behavior across the board.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Christopher N. Beka, Director of Inspection and Enforcement at NESREA, highlighted the country’s policy framework supporting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—a central strategy in PROTEGO’s mission.
Key policies include:
. NESREA Act (2007)– Establishes legal authority for environmental enforcement.
. National Environmental (Sanitation and Wastes Control) Regulations (2009)– Sets national standards for waste handling and promotes EPR.
. National Environmental (Electrical/Electronic Sector) Regulations (2011)– Focuses on the sustainable management of e-waste.
. EPR Operational Guidelines (2014)– Outlines roles, compliance requirements, and procedures for all stakeholders.
. National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (2020)– Places EPR at the center of Nigeria’s strategy for managing plastic waste.
However, Dr. Beka acknowledged key challenges, including the lack of adequate infrastructure and the failure of some producers to pay the required EPR compliance fees.
Dr. Abubakar Saleh, Director General of the Great Green Wall, praised the progress made on EPR but urged for stronger partnerships among policymakers, producers, and the public.
“We’ve come a long way, but there’s still more to do,” he said.
“Plastic pollution is devastating our marine ecosystems and threatening livelihoods. This workshop is about mobilizing all stakeholders to take urgent action.”
Mr. Saleh stressed that without greater synergy and enforcement, marine pollution will continue to rise, undermining biodiversity and the circular economy.
As the PROTEGO project gets underway, Nigeria and Ghana are stepping up regional leadership on the fight against marine litter—working toward a cleaner ocean and a more circular, sustainable economy.
