The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has called for sustained collaboration to preserve the gains achieved under a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project.
LASEPA made this known in a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, following the closing ceremony of the UNIDO plastic management project in Lagos.
The UNIDO Project SAP 210184, titled “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains through Circular Economy Practices,” was funded by Japan.
The project, implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders, aimed to improve plastic waste management and strengthen Nigeria’s plastic value chain.
It began in April 2022 and concluded in September 2026 after an 18-month extension, bringing its total implementation period to 54 months.
Representing Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, LASEPA General Manager, Mrs. Adebayo Adedayo, Director of the Environmental Sustainability Unit, emphasized the importance of collaboration to sustain the project’s outcomes.
Adedayo noted that government institutions, development partners, private organizations, and communities all contributed to the progress made under the initiative.
She highlighted that no single institution could effectively address the complex challenges of plastic waste management without stakeholder collaboration.
Adedayo also stressed the need for grassroots participation and community ownership to sustain environmental projects beyond their implementation period. Engaging communities from the planning stage can foster ownership, encourage effective adoption, and ensure long-term success.
The ceremony featured presentations on the project’s achievements and evaluation results, as well as discussions on public-private partnerships driving plastic circular economy initiatives.
The project aimed to reduce plastic waste, promote circular economy practices, improve waste management, and strengthen Nigeria’s plastic value chain.
Partners included the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, LASEPA, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and the Waste Management Society of Nigeria.
