– Enhancing Nigeria’s Environmental Regulatory Framework
– Addressing Hazardous Waste Challenges in Nigeria
– International Partnerships for Sustainable Waste Management
On April 16, 2025, Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a joint initiative to improve the country’s management of chemicals and waste. The project, titled “Strengthening National Infrastructural and Human Capacity for Sound Chemicals and Waste Management in Nigeria,” aims to bolster legislative frameworks, enhance regulatory capacities, and upgrade infrastructure for monitoring, disposal, and recycling. It also emphasizes collaboration among government bodies, the private sector, civil society, and international partners, with a focus on gender inclusivity.
Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, highlighted the environmental and public health risks posed by improper waste management, including hazardous industrial effluents and electronic waste. He stressed the project’s alignment with international conventions such as the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to global best practices in sustainable development. UNEP Programme Officer Nicole Caesar noted that the initiative seeks to support institutional strengthening at the national level for the sound management of chemicals and waste.
