Abuja: The Nigerian government has launched the National Waste Marketplace Programme (NWMP), a digital initiative aimed at promoting sustainable environmental management, economic prosperity, and a cleaner future for Nigerians.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the National Waste Marketplace is an innovative online platform designed to formalise Nigeria’s waste value chain by connecting waste generators, collectors, aggregators, recyclers, and end-users within a transparent and traceable system. During the official unveiling of the NWMP in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, emphasized the platform’s role in leveraging technology to create economic linkages across the recycling ecosystem while enhancing environmental compliance, material recovery, and sustainable production and consumption patterns.
Mr. Lawal stated that as Nigeria advances towards a circular economy, it is crucial to view environmental protection not only as a regulatory obligation but also as a driver of innovation and green growth. He highlighted that the National Waste Marketplace exemplifies how regulatory reform, private sector participation, and technological innovation can converge to deliver environmental and economic benefits. The platform is expected to foster transparency in material flows, strengthen data availability for environmental planning, and improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s recycling industry.
The Minister explained that the initiative aligns with the National Policy on Solid Waste Management, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, and the National Circular Economy Roadmap. It also supports Nigeria’s commitments under global environmental frameworks, including the Basel Convention, the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 and 13, which focus on responsible consumption, production, and climate action.
Mr. Lawal urged all stakeholders-government agencies, private sector players, recyclers, investors, civil society organisations, and young people-to take ownership of the initiative. He expressed hope that by working together, they could build a more organised waste management system that promotes accountability, creates employment opportunities, and supports national efforts towards a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
In his remarks, Professor Innocent Barikor, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), described the NWMP as a platform that would connect all key actors in the waste management value chain while ensuring traceability and accountability. He reaffirmed NESREA’s commitment to providing the necessary regulatory framework, coordination, and enforcement to sustain the programme’s impact.
Professor Barikor noted that beyond technology, the NWMP represents a vision of Nigeria where waste management drives innovation, youth empowerment, and green enterprise. He stated that the programme aligns with the EPR framework implemented by NESREA, ensuring that producers, recyclers, collectors, and consumers play clearly defined roles in safeguarding the environment and conserving natural resources.
He added that the NWMP would create new economic opportunities by providing verified market linkages, improving traceability in recycling activities, and supporting the development of a regulated secondary materials market. Through this initiative, the aim is to train and certify thousands of Nigerian youths and micro-enterprises in circular business models, thereby creating decent green jobs and stimulating sustainable growth.
Mr. Nkem Orakwe, Founder and CEO of Recycle Stack Limited, remarked that the platform was set to transform Nigeria’s waste management landscape by introducing a digitised national waste marketplace. He explained that the initiative seeks to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035 through training, certification, and integration into a formalised circular economy. Mr. Orakwe emphasized that waste is becoming wealth, and the initiative intends to revolutionise Nigeria’s waste management ecosystem by enabling skills training, certification, and data-driven insights, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda to promote green jobs, sustainable urban development, and environmental stewardship across the country.