Friday, December 19, 2025 - The Nigerian government has directed plastic manufacturers and plastic bottling companies operating across the country to take responsibility for plastic waste littering the environment.
The directive was among several resolutions adopted at the
18th meeting of the National Council on Environment (NCE) -- Nigeria's highest
advisory body on environmental matters -- held in Katsina State between 15 and
17 December.
The meeting, themed "Tackling the Triple Planetary
Crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution for Sustainable
Development in Nigeria," was chaired by the Minister of Environment,
Balarabe Lawal.
It brought together commissioners responsible for the
environment from the 36 states, permanent secretaries, heads of
environment-related agencies, development partners, civil society
organisations, academics and journalists.
During the meeting, participants reviewed major
environmental risks associated with mining activities, plastic pollution and
public health hazards across the country, approving proactive measures to
address the challenges.
"...all plastic manufacturers and plastic bottling
companies should be made to adopt the concept of Extended Producers
Responsibility (EPR) by taking responsibility for the plastic waste they
produce nationwide," a final communiqué unanimously adopted at the meeting
partly read.
Plastic pollution in Nigeria
Over the past two decades, plastic production and imports
have increased significantly in Nigeria, placing enormous pressure on the
country's municipal waste management systems. Studies show that most plastic
waste in Nigeria is either burnt, openly dumped or discharged into water
bodies.
An estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are
generated annually across the country, with only a small fraction recycled.
Because plastics are non-biodegradable, they cause widespread environmental
damage, harming aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and posing serious public
health risks.
In drainage channels and street corners across major cities
and communities, empty water sachets, plastic bottles and takeaway packaging
are commonplace. Many of these products are linked to beverage and bottling
companies operating in the country.
Top brands such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Unilever
are among the major contributors to Nigeria's plastic waste challenge. Others
include Bigi, C-Way and Eva Water, which also contribute significantly to
single-use plastic pollution.
Decades of weak regulation and poor waste disposal practices
have worsened public health concerns, including the clogging of major
waterways, which restricts water flow and contributes to the recurring flooding
experienced in many parts of the country.
Against this backdrop, the federal government in November
inaugurated a 14-member Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ban of Single-Use
Plastics (SUPs), signalling a renewed push for environmental sustainability and
improved waste management.
The move aligns with global efforts to adopt a legally
binding treaty on plastic pollution, although recent international negotiations
ended in a deadlock.
In August, after more than 10 days of negotiations in
Geneva, Switzerland, delegates from about 184 countries, including Nigeria,
failed to reach a consensus on an international plastics treaty, rejecting
three proposed draft texts.
At the talks, Nigeria advocated a clear and inclusive
definition of plastics and called for the recognition of national action plans
as the primary instruments for implementation, guided -- but not constrained --
by international frameworks.
Other approvals
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting
on Wednesday, the council approved measures requiring legal and regulatory
bodies to restrict the siting of mineral processing companies within
residential and restricted areas across the states and the Federal Capital
Territory.
The council also mandated plastic manufacturers and bottling
companies to take responsibility for the collection and management of plastic
waste generated from their products.
It further approved the urgent integration of climate change
assessment into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process nationwide,
with particular emphasis on the Niger Delta region.
Environmental experts at the meeting warned that unregulated
mineral processing and plastic pollution continue to pose serious threats to
human health, ecosystems and urban safety, especially in densely populated
areas.
The council directed that Environmental Impact Assessment
structures be established in all state ministries of environment, while
retaining the authority to issue EIA certificates at the federal level.
States were also instructed to nominate EIA focal officers
and formally communicate their nominations to the Federal Ministry of
Environment to improve coordination and compliance.
In response to environmental and health concerns in
extractive communities, the council highlighted the need to introduce public
health screening protocols in mining areas and to require livelihood
restoration plans as part of mine closure processes
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