The Nigerian government in partnership with the European Union, EU has held a validation workshop on Circular Economy Roadmap as part of efforts to support Nigeria’s transition to circular economy.
Transiting to a circular economy would help Nigeria create jobs and build more resilience to avoid future disruptions, while also solving many other ongoing crises from resource scarcity to biodiversity and climate change.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ibhraim Yusufu stated this at a one-day National Stakeholders validation workshop of the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Yusufu noted that “Nigeria with a population of over 200 Million people generates about 32 Million tons of solid waste per year, with little or no segregation is illegally dumped in open spaces.”
‘’Developing the Circular Economy Roadmap for the Country requires the input of various stakeholders who are critical to the key activities that promote the successful transition of the Nigerian economy from a linear to a more Circular Economy orientation through mainstreaming circular economy and natural capital accounting in development policy and practice. To sensitize stakeholders and seek their buy-in, a One-day Inception Workshop was held on Thursday, 17th August 2023. As a part of the process for the development of the roadmap, a Stakeholders Validation Workshop of the Roadmap document has been scheduled to take place on Thursday, 28th September 2023,’’ Yusufu explained.
He said the co-disposed of hazardous wastes in dump-site practices has been linked to perennial flash floods across the country and loss in agricultural productivity.
Permanent secretary further stressed that “the large volume of waste being generated in the country presents circular economy business opportunities across the waste management value chain should be properly harnessed for job/wealth creation, the establishment of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, private sector investment including foreign direct investment.”
“For Nigeria to benefit from its circular economy potentials, a study on ‘Nigeria’s Transition to Green Economy: Linking Circular Economy and Natural Capital for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Investment’ was commissioned with support from African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Netherlands and the African Green Growth & Development Forum (AGDF) as part of the process for the development of the Nigerian Circular Economy Programme, NCEP.
‘’The scope of the study is basically to carry out feasibility studies of all Circular Economy and Natural Capital Accounting Activities in the country and develop a Circular Economy Road Map Framework to guide Nigeria’s transition to a more circular economy in the short, medium and long terms (2023-2050),’’ he stated.
The Head of the Green & Digital Economy EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz said; “the EU is supporting government, especially with the preparation and adoption of plastic waste regulation and circular economy.”
Stefanowicz said the workshop would go a long way in operationalization of Circular Economy policies in the country.
She said; ‘’This work is being done and funded by the SWITCH to GREEN facility funded by the EU which provides the expert to carrying out the necessary work and preparation, the work is done in partnership primarily with the Ministry of Environment in the recognition that the minister is in the lead, we need to look at first the policy level some of these policies have been there and how to operationalizsed and enforce this policy, this is where the work on the roadmap start and state level organization comes in.’’
She added that an important aspect the EU would be looking at is the economic development and also the potential of a circular economy in the waste sector.
The Policy Adviser, Economic Affairs Embassy of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Mr. Opeyemi Oriniowo said that the workshop is very important because it would help provide a national framework for states across the country to domesticate and coordinate as Nigeria moves to transition from a linear to a more Circular Economy.
Mr Oriniowo said, “The circular economy would help keep the environment safe and economy transformation.”
He also called for more synergy and coordinating approaches from other relevant stakeholders to fast-track the circular economy space.
Mr. Oriniowo stated Circular economy would offer opportunities not only for the environmental side but the economic potential of Nigeria.
He said; ‘’Recent statistics by UNEP estimated annual investment available to Africa is estimated at three trillion dollars and we as continent are not even assessing, this is not a charity this is a not a feel good to have a concept, but that which will actually work in transition and help provide the needed economic catalyst for the Nigerian economy.’’
Representative of the Lagos State government, Assist Director LAWMA, Jirinsola Olaleye, said that embracing circular economy is a step towards sustainability and control.
She said the programme would bring relevant stakeholders together in a quest for a more sustainable environment, stressing that there is need to preserve the environment for the operationalisation.
‘’It is clear that we need to be reengineered the way we think our thought patterns as when it comes to product use and all that. Particularly when you look at the secular economic landscape, and when we think about developing countries at the receiving end of activities of developed countries must look look critically at closing the loop and making sure that we move from you know, how we used to do things the concerns of consumption pattern, production patterns, and look at a more sustainable way to make use to make use and keep materials donor examination and finally closing the loop. I like to say this, that embracing circular economy is definitely a step towards sustainability and control,’’ he said.
The Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with critical stakeholders established the Nigeria Circular Economy Programme as part of its efforts to promote the adoption of circular economy in Nigeria as a model of sustainable development in which the productive use of resources is enhanced overtime, wastes reduced and jobs created.
Developing the Circular Economy Roadmap for the Country requires the input of various stakeholders who are critical to the key activities that promote the successful transition of the Nigerian economy from a linear to a more Circular Economy orientation through mainstreaming circular economy and natural capital accounting in development policy and practice.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
