Lagos: The Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Professor Innocent Barikor, has called for increased investments in the circular economy value chain to enhance Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Professor Barikor made this appeal during a meeting with the management of Sonnex Packaging Nigeria, a plastic packaging recycling company, in Lagos State.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Assistant Director of Press at NESREA, Nwamaka Ejiofor, stated that Professor Barikor assured the team of the Nigerian government’s commitment to prioritizing the circular economy. He highlighted that the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, which will soon be gazetted, is a significant step in strengthening the legal framework for implementing the circular economy in Nigeria.
Professor Barikor emphasized that the circular economy is a priority under the Federal Ministry of Environment, with the Minister being particularly interested in its success. He noted that beyond addressing waste issues, the initiative has also created green jobs. The production and export of pellets and flakes generate foreign exchange for the country. Once the Plastic Waste Control Regulations are officially gazetted, the framework for implementing the circular economy in the plastic sector will be complete, showcasing the agency’s dedication to its success.
Additionally, the Managing Director of Sonnex Packaging Nigeria, Mr. Anil Mohinani, praised the NESREA leader for the progress in producing recycled PET bottles (rPET). He also pointed out the challenges investors face in the sector, such as the absence of a legal instrument compelling manufacturers in the food and beverage sector to adopt food-grade rPET and the existence of unfriendly policies by some foreign companies.
Mr. Mohinani mentioned that Europe and America create barriers to protect their international recycling businesses, leading to unfair competition. In contrast, countries like Kenya encourage investment in rPET recycling by having supportive regulations in place.