As Nigeria grapples with mounting plastic pollution, poor waste management, and the growing threat of environmental degradation, stakeholders in the recycling sector have called for stronger policy implementation and urgent investment in circular economy initiatives to prevent a full-scale waste crisis.
The concerns came to the fore as the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, received the 2025 Industry Enabler Award from the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN) for his contributions to advancing recycling and sustainable environmental policies in the country.
The award was presented during the Association’s 2026 Professional Conference held on April 30 at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.
In a statement signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of Nigeria (REDIN), Dr. Fyneray Mbata, and made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, stakeholders warned that Nigeria’s recycling ecosystem remains under severe pressure due to weak enforcement of environmental laws, inadequate waste sorting systems, poor public awareness, and limited government-private sector collaboration.
According to the statement, despite Nigeria generating millions of tonnes of municipal waste annually, much of it plastic, electronic, and industrial waste still ends up in open dumpsites, drainage systems, and water channels, worsening flooding, public health risks, and urban pollution.
Environmental experts noted that many Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, continue to struggle with indiscriminate waste disposal, especially single-use plastics, which have become major contributors to blocked drainage channels and seasonal flooding.
They also raised concerns over the informal nature of Nigeria’s recycling chain, where thousands of waste pickers operate without social protection, structured financing, or policy recognition, despite playing a critical role in resource recovery and environmental sanitation.
The statement said Hon. Ugbor’s recognition was based on his “outstanding personal leadership and unwavering commitment” to promoting legislative and policy frameworks that support recycling, green jobs, and sustainable environmental practices.
“His efforts in promoting sustainable environmental practices and supporting policies that encourage recycling have positioned him as a key enabler in the industry,” the statement noted.
Ugbor, who was represented at the event by Dr. Mbata, was praised for supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening extended producer responsibility, improving waste recovery systems, and encouraging private sector participation in environmental sustainability.
Industry players stressed that Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy would require more than awards and conferences, insisting that deliberate investments in recycling infrastructure, waste-to-wealth programmes, youth empowerment, and public education campaigns must become national priorities.
They argued that with rising unemployment and worsening climate challenges, the recycling industry offers a major opportunity for job creation, poverty reduction, and environmental protection if properly supported.
The conference concluded with renewed calls for federal and state governments to treat recycling not merely as sanitation policy, but as a strategic economic sector capable of driving sustainable development and protecting future generations.