The director-general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor has emphasised that Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme mandates producers to design products and packaging that are recyclable or reusable, in line with circular economy principles.
Barikor made this known on ‘NESREA Half Hour,’ a radio programme produced in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps and aired on National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM, Abuja.
Represented by Engr. Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, the assistant director, plastics, Barikor described the circular economy as an economic system where products and their packaging are designed to last, and can be reused, recycled, or repurposed at the end of their life cycle.
“If you are producing anything, think of the end-of-life of that product, its take-back and what else it can be used for,” he said. “The responsibility of the producer now extends beyond the shelf to include post-consumer waste management.”
He added that all producers are required to register with a relevant Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for their sector. According to him, Nigeria already has functional PROs in the food and beverage, battery, electrical and electronics, and tyre sectors, where the programme has commenced.
In a statement issued by NESREA’s assistant director of press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, Barikor noted that the agency is partnering with a fintech company to strengthen the EPR implementation framework. This partnership is aimed at formalising the downstream waste value chain and ensuring that waste pickers and collectors are properly trained, organised and incentivised by the PROs.
