The Federal Government of Nigeria and the PROTEGO Project, Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea, are working together to reduce plastic waste leakage into the oceans of Nigeria and Ghana.
Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, made this known on Wednesday at a stakeholder training workshop on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme in Abuja.
The event was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the PROTEGO Project.
The minister, represented by the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Mr Saleh Abubakar, said the event underscored a shared commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment.
“The PROTEGO Project, inaugurated in July 2024 and running through June 2027, will play a pivotal role in reducing plastic waste leakage into the oceans in Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.
Lawal added that the project would promote circular economy strategies, improve waste management, and build local capacity.
“The urgency of our mission cannot be overstated, given Nigeria’s vulnerability as a country with over 850 kilometres of Atlantic coastline.
“Around 14 million tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year, threatening biodiversity, marine ecosystems, and coastal beauty,” he said.
He noted that while marine pollution is a global challenge, solutions must be local, innovation-driven, and backed by strong collaboration.
Lawal also announced that the National Guideline on EPR for the Packaging Sector will take effect in 2025, alongside the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2025.
He described EPR as more than just an environmental policy, but a “paradigm shift” that required producers to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products.
Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, said the training was both timely and strategic.
He emphasised the importance of stakeholder education in reducing marine pollution and enhancing the effectiveness of EPR programmes.
“NESREA is committed to strengthening national policy, building capacity, and forging partnerships that support a sustainable, circular, and low-carbon environmental system,” he said.
In a presentation, the Programme and Strategy Manager at WASTE Africa, Mr Gabriel Onyebuolise said the goal was to reduce marine litter entering the Gulf of Guinea and reinforce policies like EPR.
The Programme Lead at Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), Mr Oluwatosin Ajide also highlighted that the PROTEGO Project aimed to promote sustainable practices, capacity building, policy reform, and public awareness.
NAN
