Nigeria has taken another bold stride toward sustainable environmental
innovation with the successful demonstration of a plastic waste-to-diesel conversion technology, organized by Premium Blue
Economy Innovations and Investments Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Held in Abuja, the event marked a pivotal moment in the country’s journey toward a circular and regenerative economy, aligning with the
global Blue Economy agenda that promotes responsible resource use,
clean energy, and sustainable industrial growth.
The Blue Economy is a fast-rising global development model that merges
economic growth with environmental stewardship, emphasizing the sustainable use of ocean, water, and environmental resources.
In Nigeria, it extends beyond marine resources to include waste-to-energy innovation, climate adaptation, and eco-industrial
systems, areas that Premium Blue Economy Innovations and Investments
Limited is leading with purpose and foresight.
The company was co-founded by two visionary Nigerian entrepreneurs,
Gegele Yahya Olushola and Fife Banks, who were inspired by the sustainability principles championed by Professor Gunter Pauli, a
Belgian economist and the founder of the Blue Economy concept.
Today, that idea has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most innovative sustainability ventures, bringing together scientists, engineers,
economists, and strategists to transform plastic pollution into a
profitable, clean energy resource.
During the demonstration, co-founder and CEO Mr. Gegele Yahya Olushola
walked participants through the pyrolysis-based conversion process
that transforms non-PET plastics such as polyethylene, polystyrene,
and polypropylene into ultra-low sulphur diesel.
The process also generates synthetic gas, which powers the plant, and
char residue, which can be used in battery manufacturing and soil
enrichment.
“We focus on the plastics that most recyclers ignore—nylon bags,
packaging materials, broken furniture, and household plastics,”
Olushola explained. “These are the plastics that often end up in
landfills, drainages, and oceans. Through this innovation, we turn
them into usable diesel, clean gas, and industrial-grade carbon
material. This is not just recycling; it’s reindustrialization.”
He noted that the demonstration was designed to showcase full
circularity, transforming waste into clean fuel that could be directly
used for transport.
The highlight of the event was a vehicle powered by the locally
produced diesel that reportedly drove from Lagos to Abuja, proving the
technology’s real-world viability.
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Fife Banks described the
project as “a model of African ingenuity meeting global sustainability
standards.”
He emphasized the company’s mission to not only provide environmental
solutions but also create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen
Nigeria’s energy independence.
“This is a Nigerian innovation, developed by Nigerians, for
Nigerians,” Banks said. “Our goal is to help build a self-sustaining
green industry that provides cleaner fuel alternatives while
stimulating economic growth across the value chain.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of
Environment, represented by Engr Dr Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director
Pollution Control & Environmental Health, commended Premium Blue
Economy for its groundbreaking contribution, stressing that the
initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope
Agenda, which prioritizes sustainability, industrialization, and youth
empowerment.
“Plastic waste is not just an environmental nuisance; it is a national
challenge that undermines public health and development,” the Minister
said. “But within every challenge lies opportunity. Converting plastic
waste into ultra-low sulphur diesel is a demonstration of how science
and innovation can turn hazards into assets.”
She added that the project contributes to Nigeria’s Paris Agreement
goals, net-zero emissions target by 2060, and the UN Sustainable
Development Goals on clean energy, climate action, and sustainable
production.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the
Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari, represented by
Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, Deputy Director, pollution control &
environmental health, described the initiative as a “strategic step
toward cleaner energy production, reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, and advancement of a circular economy.”
“Through innovation and technology, plastic waste, long seen as a
menace, can now be transformed into a valuable energy resource,” she
said. “This project reflects our collective resolve to turn environmental challenges into opportunities.”
The event attracted representatives from the Bank of Industry, Nature News, the Nigerian Plastic Action Partnership, NPAP, and the Office of
the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training
and Development.
Femi Idowu-Adegoke, a representative of NPAP, applauded the project,
describing it as a “blueprint for sustainable industrial transformation. He stated that Nigeria may be Africa’s largest
producer of plastic waste, but that also gives us the biggest opportunity to turn waste into wealth through innovation and collaboration.
Alhaji Aliu Akoshilei, chairman of Nature News, while presenting an
award to Mr. Olushola Gegele, praised the initiative as “historic,” noting its potential to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint and create
thousands of green jobs.
“We at Nature News will continue to amplify innovations like this. If we fail to act now, tomorrow may be too late,” he warned.
For Premium Blue Economy Innovations and Investments Limited, the
success of this demonstration reinforces its mission to catalyse Nigeria’s shared and sustainable blue prosperity.
Under the leadership of Gegele Yahya Olushola and Fife Banks, the company continues to push boundaries — proving that environmental
innovation can drive economic transformation.