The NGO Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of Nigeria (REDIN) has received accreditation from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to advance the recovery and recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).
Receiving the certificate on Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Fyna Mbata, Executive Secretary and Chief Responsibility Officer of REDIN, pledged to promote ELV recovery to curb environmental pollution and create jobs nationwide.
Mbata also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NESREA to support this initiative.
He described REDIN’s accreditation as a significant step toward responsible automotive waste management in Nigeria. He emphasized that the approval is more than an endorsement; it is a mandate to protect the environment and ensure responsible management of automotive products throughout their lifecycle.
He stated that ELVs should no longer be viewed as mere waste but as recoverable resources that require proper collection, dismantling, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal.
“As we receive this certificate today, we see this milestone not as an endpoint but as the beginning of greater efforts,” he said.
Mbata added that REDIN would operate within the regulatory framework established by the federal government under NESREA’s guidance. The organization aims to promote compliance among vehicle producers and stakeholders, support formalization of the automotive value chain, and foster a transition from an informal, fragmented system to an organized, transparent, traceable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible one.
He noted that a well-structured ELV recycling ecosystem could generate jobs, attract investments, support local manufacturing, and reduce reliance on virgin raw materials. Such a system could also encourage innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the circular economy.
Mbata highlighted that improved automotive waste management would reduce public health risks associated with abandoned vehicles, emissions, illegal dumping, uncontrolled burning, and improper handling of hazardous components.
He stressed that sustainable transformation in the sector would require collaboration among government, manufacturers, recyclers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
He praised NESREA for its rigorous accreditation process, calling it a mechanism to promote accountability, competence, transparency, and measurable performance.
He assured that REDIN’s accreditation would translate into practical programs, meaningful partnerships, compliance, and positive environmental outcomes.
Mbata reaffirmed REDIN’s commitment to delivering tangible public value and environmental benefits, as well as supporting Nigeria’s automotive sector as a Producer Responsibility Organisation.
Prof. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, emphasized that integrating the automotive sector into the Producer Responsibility framework was critical for ensuring environmentally sound ELV management. He noted that recyclers and collectors must be registered and monitored to ensure accountability, with NESREA providing regulatory support and oversight.
Barikor congratulated REDIN on its accreditation and pledged NESREA’s continued support, warning that the agency would enforce regulations against non-compliant operators.
