The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing the battery sector and enforcing best practices in line with globally accepted standards.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal made the pledge during an interaction with the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET) team on the sidelines of the International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector in Africa, held Tuesday in Abuja.
The conference, which marked the conclusion of activities under PROBAMET, was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), on behalf of Oeko-Institut, Germany.
The minister expressed concern over the improper handling of used lead-acid batteries, particularly in the informal sector, where unregulated recyclers prioritise profit over environmental and health safety. He emphasised that the government is taking concrete steps to formalise the sector and ensure compliance with international standards.
“We will take all necessary steps to enforce best practices in the battery sector,” Lawal stated. “This includes supporting recycling facilities that adhere to regulations and holding non-compliant ones accountable.”
In his welcome address, the director-general of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor commended the German government for its support in improving Nigeria’s battery recycling sector. He highlighted PROBAMET’s role in laying a strong foundation for sustainable battery recycling and called on African countries to build on its achievements.
Barikor emphasised the need for investment in cleaner and more efficient recycling technologies to mitigate environmental and health risks. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework to ensure industry participation in battery waste management. Furthermore, he called for enhanced regional cooperation to harmonise policies, facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange and align regulations across Africa.
Representing the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, the programme component and implementation manager for GIZ, Joshua Garba reiterated Germany’s continued support for Nigeria’s efforts toward sustainable battery waste management.
The conference attracted participation from development partners, including the Initiative for Global Solidarity, the Alliance for Rural Electrification, Platform Bei, the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling, as well as representatives from Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana.
A statement by NESREA’s assistant director of press, Amaka Ejiofor noted that key stakeholders in attendance included the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor; Director of pollution control and environmental health, Engr. Dr. B.H. Abubakar; Director-general of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Saleh Abubakar; Anambra State commissioner for environment, Engr. Felix Odumegwu; Ogun State commissioner for environment, Ola Oresanya and the Ologijo of Ogijo Kingdom, Oba Kazeem Badamosi.
The conference underscored Nigeria’s commitment to establishing a sustainable and responsible battery recycling sector while ensuring environmental protection and public health safety.
