The Federal Government has announced strict new environmental regulations that will hold manufacturers and importers directly accountable for plastic waste management through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework set for full implementation in 2025.
Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal, speaking through National Agency for the Great Green Wall Director-General Saleh Abubakar at a recent Abuja workshop, emphasized that businesses must now plan for their products’ entire lifecycle, stating: “We’re talking about a model in which producers will be held accountable from cradle to finish…you must take responsibility not just for selling the product, but also for when the product becomes obsolete or unusable.”
The policy shift includes mandatory EPR compliance for packaging sector companies, new plastic waste regulations taking effect next year, and requirements for producer-funded recycling systems to establish a circular economy.
This initiative addresses Nigeria’s critical marine plastic threat along its 850km coastline, with German-backed PROTEGO Project official Amar Munnolimath noting the program aims to create financially sustainable waste management systems that will continue operating independently after project completion.
Leave a comment