Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - Nigeria is facing a significant food waste crisis, with an estimated 38 million tonnes of food wasted annually, making it the highest in Africa.
The EU, along with the Federal Government and the United
Nations Industrial Development Organisation, therefore, called for urgent
action to end food waste and promote sustainable consumption and production.
They noted that when food is wasted, the water, energy, and
labour that went into producing it are also wasted, while accelerating climate
change and undermining global efforts to build a zero-waste circular future.
“Nigeria wastes roughly 38 million tonnes of food every
year, more than any other country on the African continent,” Deputy Ambassador,
EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, said.
In a statement by the EU delegation to Nigeria and Economic
Community of West African States, on Monday, to commemorate this year’s
International Zero Waste Day, with the theme “Food waste reduction –
minimisation and valourisation,” Vergos noted that globally, in 2022 alone,
nearly one billion tonnes of food, almost one fifth of all food available to
consumers, was wasted.
“This is not just a loss of food, it is a squandering of
precious resources, a missed opportunity to combat hunger, and a direct threat
to our planet’s health,” he added.
He further noted that food loss and waste are major drivers
of environmental degradation, contributing up to 10 per cent of global
greenhouse gas emissions, nearly five times the emissions of the entire
aviation sector, and accounting for as much as 40 per cent of global methane
emissions.
Highlighting some of the government’s efforts, he said, “The
Nigeria circular economy roadmap, the establishment of the Interministerial
circular economy committee, the push to develop a National Plastic Waste
Management Regulation are not small gestures, adding that they are structural
shifts.
“This signals that Nigeria is not waiting for someone else
to solve its problem; it is building the system to solve it from within. Now,
today’s theme, food waste reduction, minimisation and valorisation, is the
right conversation in the right moment.”
Vergos further shared three key lessons from the EU’s
experience to help Nigeria reduce food waste and boost food security.
First, he urged the country to invest in rural roads,
storage, and cold chains to fix the “last mile” beyond the farm.
He also urged the country to promote the processing of fresh
produce into value-added products like tomato paste and cassava flour by
linking smallholder farmers to processors and markets. Lastly, he called on the
government to embed zero waste, recycling, and resource saving into the school
curriculum from the primary level to build a sustainable culture in the next
generation.
Reiterating the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s
efforts to curb food waste, he said, “The EU stands ready to be your partner in
that work, through funding, through technical cooperation, and through genuine
solidarity.”
In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment,
Balarabe Lawal, restated the government’s commitment to protecting the
environment and promoting sustainable practices towards securing the health and
well-being of Nigerians.
He said, “Food waste remains a significant challenge that
affects not only our environment, but also our economy and society.
“Every discarded meal represents wasted resources such as
water, energy, labour, and capital, while Nigerians continue to face food
insecurity.
“Addressing food waste is, therefore, central to sustainable
development and ensuring a healthier future for all.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment, in this year’s
national appropriation, has developed projects on food waste elimination in
major markets around Nigeria.
“And this is to show you that the Federal Ministry of
Environment is tackling the issues of food waste at its core, especially
post-harvest losses.”
Lawal added that addressing food waste aligned perfectly
with the ministry’s core objectives.
“Reducing food waste will not only help to lower pollution
and greenhouse gases, but also conserve valuable resources and promote more
efficient and responsible consumption patterns across households, businesses,
and institutions,” he said.
The Director and Representative, UNIDO Sub-Regional Office,
Nigeria, Amb Philbert Johnson, emphasised that while food is good, none should
go to waste, especially when the country has issues of food insecurity and
malnutrition.
He said, “Food is far more than a commodity: it is a
foundation of wealth, a driver of health, and a pillar of security. It sustains
our homes, supports industries, and underpins the stability of our societies.
“When food systems function efficiently, they generate
income, enhance resilience, and improve well-being. When food systems fail,
when food is lost or wasted, the consequences ripple across our economies, our
environment, and our communities.”
He, therefore, reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to support the
government of Nigeria in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable
agro-industrial systems.
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