It is Imperative for Nigeria to Move to Circular Economy- NESREA

By: Michael Mike

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has said it is imperative for Nigeria to move from linear economy to circular economy in order to join the ranks of developed countries.

Speaking at a media dialogue on circular economy, the Director General of NESREA Dr. Innocent Barikor while noting that the dialogue is intended to further deepen media knowledge and understanding of the concept of circular economy, said it has become obvious that Nigeria can not solely depends on linear economy to sustain the high economy demands and development set out to transform Nigeria from underdeveloped to developed country.

He explained that it was on this perimeter that the NESREA organised a media dialogue to acquaint the media with the concept of circular economy and its implementation in the country, highlighting key initiatives and strategies to enhance sustainability, reduce waste, mitigate environmental impacts and promote green growth in Nigeria.

He said: “This has become very essential as we continue to work together to promote sustainable development of our dear country. Circular Economy is a model which transforms the way we produce , consume and dispose of resources. It is a sustainable economy model that aims to reduce waste and the consumption of resources by promoting the reuse, recycling, and refurbishment of products. It seeks to keep products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste and pollution.”

He further explained that: “Nigeria has since embraced the circular economy model, with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) spearheading the initiative. Through its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, the Agency has launched the implementation of circular economy principles nationwide. The Programme places an emphasis on shared responsibility, sustainability and environmental stewardship. It effectively extends the responsibility of manufacturers, producers and importers beyond production and sales, and makes them responsible for the total life cycle of their products. Under the take-back mechanism, the EPR ensures that these products do not end up in the dump sites but rather become secondary raw materials for some other products”.

The Director, Partnership and Education, NESREA, Mrs Bintu Kolo Mohammed in her welcome address said: “Circular Economy represents more than just a shift in how we manage resources; it’s a fundamental change in how we think about our relationship with the environment. It is a departure from the linear model “take-make-use-dispose” to a model which allows us to re-design our products so that they can be reused, recycled, refurbished and repurposed in a way that helps to regenerate our natural resources in a closed loop.

“Thus, media parley is necessary to drive home the idea, the dissemination of information which make the media critical stakeholders in the environment sector, and as such, it becomes very necessary to constantly update journalist with information on recent happenings in the sector.”

She said: “There is no doubt that there is a lot of advantages in embracing this idea, One of the main benefits of the circular economy is also the fact that it helps protect both humans and planets.It also reduce the impacts (greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, waste) on natural systems and biodiversity while promoting sustainable development and producing wealth and jobs.

“This approach helps reduce the strain on natural resources, minimize waste generation, and lower the environmental impact of production and consumption. Adopting circular economy principles can lead to a more sustainable and prosperous future by generating economic, social, and environmental benefits for both businesses and society as a whole.”