Abuja: An NGO, the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of Nigeria (REDIN), has received an accreditation certificate from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to promote the recovery and recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). Receiving the certificate, Dr. Fyneray Mbata, the Executive Secretary and Chief Responsibility Officer of REDIN, pledged to promote the recovery of ELVs to curb environmental pollution and generate employment nationwide. Mbata also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NESREA to promote the initiative, describing REDIN’s accreditation as a significant step towards responsible automotive waste management in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the approval is more than an endorsement but a mandate to protect the environment and promote responsible management of automotive products and materials throughout their life cycle. Mbata emphasized that ELVs should no longer be viewed merely as discarded materials but as recoverable resources requiring proper collection, dismantling, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal. He noted that receiving the certificate marks the beginning of greater work for REDIN, which will operate within the regulatory framework established by the Federal Government under NESREA’s guidance and oversight.
Mbata outlined that the organization would promote compliance among vehicle producers and other stakeholders while supporting the formalization and professionalization of the automotive value chain. REDIN aims to transition from an informal and fragmented automotive waste management system to one that is organized, transparent, traceable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible. A properly structured End-of-Life Vehicle recycling ecosystem, he said, can create jobs, attract investment, support local manufacturing, and reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, ultimately encouraging innovation and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the emerging circular economy.
The REDIN executive secretary highlighted that improved automotive waste management would reduce public health risks associated with abandoned vehicles, emissions, indiscriminate dumping, uncontrolled burning, and improper handling of hazardous components. Mbata stressed that achieving sustainable transformation in the sector would require collaboration among government, producers, recyclers, regulators, and other stakeholders. He commended NESREA for its rigorous accreditation process, describing it as a mechanism for promoting accountability, competence, transparency, and measurable performance, and pledged REDIN’s commitment to delivering tangible public value and environmental benefits.
Prof. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, emphasized the importance of bringing the automotive sector under the Producer Responsibility framework to ensure environmentally sound management of ELVs in Nigeria. He stated that recyclers and collectors must be registered and monitored to ensure accountability, with NESREA providing regulatory support and compliance monitoring. Barikor commended REDIN for its accreditation and pledged NESREA’s support, while warning that the agency would enforce regulations against any operator that failed to comply.