The Japanese government has pledged continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to reduce Plastic Waste through the “Accelerating a Circular Plastic Economy to Reduce Plastic Pollution” project. Japanese Ambassador Hideo Suzuki highlighted the feats achieved in the first phase of the project, which was financed through the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB1). The initiative phase focused on engaging stakeholders, developing national rules, and formulating an enforcement strategy for plastic packaging. These initiatives set the stage for a more structured and well-coordinated approach to addressing Nigeria’s plastic waste issue.
Building on this momentum, the project’s second phase, which is funded by JSB2, is scheduled to start in March 2025. The second phase will shift focus to practical solutions, such as encouraging reuse and refill of water sachets, which are a significant source of plastic trash in Nigeria. Feasibility studies will be carried out to evaluate the efficacy of these systems, while stakeholder engagements will guarantee that important participants in the plastic value chain are actively engaged in the shift to sustainable alternatives.
Transforming waste management through Japan’s insights.
Additionally, in order to mobilize the resources required to close these gaps, efforts will be undertaken to identify financial gaps that impede progress in reducing single-use plastics pollution. Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), expressed profound appreciation for Japan’s continued support. He underlined that this collaboration is essential to achieving Nigeria’s objectives for Environmental Sustainability and the circular economy. Beyond financial aid, Nigeria stands to benefit from Japan’s expertise in waste management.
As a renowned global leader in effective waste disposal and Recycling systems, Japan’s Waste Management experience offers valuable insight for Nigeria’s shift to a circular plastic economy, a prospect Dr. Barikor said the country is willing to explore in future collaborations. The Japanese government’s commitment to Sustainability in Nigeria is further demonstrated by the recent presentation of the National Implementation Guidelines for Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), funded by the Government of Japan, reinforcing efforts to enhance plastic waste management and promote a circular economy in Nigeria.
UNIDO and Japan support sustainable plastic policies.
These guidelines, developed as part of the Japan-funded project “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains through Circular Economy Practices,” are a significant step in enhancing plastic waste management and promoting a circular economy in Nigeria. The initiative intends to improve resource efficiency, lessen plastic pollution, and bring Nigeria’s plastic value chains into line with international sustainability best practices. UNIDO, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Government of Japan have renewed their commitment to aid in implementing these guidelines into practice and to cultivate collaborations that advance Nigeria’s Sustainable Development objectives.
Nigeria has been actively positioning itself to address the challenges related to the management of Solid Waste items, including plastic. With UNIDO’s aid, two national policies have been created: one on the management of solid waste (2020) and another on the lifetime management of plastics (2020). Also in 2022, a US$2.8 million deal was signed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria, and the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria to aid government initiatives to create sustainable plastic waste management in the nation.
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Based on the findings of UNIDO’s 2021 Study on Plastics Value Chain in Nigeria, the three-year project was designed to advance the concepts and practices of the circular economy, which are to be incorporated into the efficient management of plastic trash. To further national efforts to combat plastic pollution, Nigeria formed a Nigerian Circular Economy Working Group in 2021 and joined the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), a multinational initiative against plastic pollution. These unwavering efforts and collaborations underscore Nigeria’s resolve to reduce Plastic Pollution and advance environmental sustainability by aligning the country’s policies and practices with global best standards.