The federal government says it has shifted from voluntary waste management to mandatory enforcement, making plastic producers, importers and brand owners legally liable for their product lifecycles and waste management.

The director-general of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Innocent Barikor, disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Owerri.

The programme was organised for manufacturers, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), recyclers, collectors, and NESREA staff members in the South-South and South-East zones.

Speaking at the event, Mr Barikor said that plastic waste management in the country had become a national priority, demanding a collective action.

Represented by a deputy director in the agency, Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, the NESREA boss emphasised that the “Polluter Pays Principle” remained the core strategy under the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We believe that the outcome of a product’s environmental impact should not rest solely on the government or the end-consumer, but should be shared by the producers, who introduced these products into the marketplace,” he said.

According to him, this shift marks a move from good corporate citizenship to a strict regulatory business requirement.

Mr Barikor further explained that the 2026 National Environmental Regulations, a new roadmap and master plan for plastic waste control, would guide importers and brand owners to manage post-consumer packaging.

He said that the guideline set specific annual targets for plastic collection, recovery, and recycling across the country to ensure international best practices, among others.

He also said that the EPR programme was an invitation to innovate and not a tax levied on industries.

“It aims to reduce operational costs, create green jobs, and enhance Nigeria’s global brand reputation,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to intensify coordination among their industry subscribers as well as commit to achieving a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.

Mr Barikor expressed gratitude to the United Nations Environment Programme and the Japanese Government for their support to Nigeria’s transition toward an accelerated, resource-efficient circular plastic economy.

Presenting an overview of the EPR framework, Mr Nwabuisiaku emphasised that EPR required collaboration across the value chain.

He also said that the policy success depended on active participation and accountability.

“EPR is not about waste, it is about responsibility, value retention and national sustainability,” he said.

Various lectures were presented at the programme, including “EPR Guidelines and Compliance Requirements”, delivered by Mrs Cynthia Abiye-Whyte.

Mr Nwabuisiaku also presented another lecture, entitled “Roles of Producers, PROs, States and Regulators”.

Azubuike Chukwuka also spoke on “Producer Registration and Reporting Obligations”. 

(NAN)