Nigeria is taking bold steps to ensure its renewable energy revolution does not trigger a new environmental crisis, as the Federal Government, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the European Union work together to establish effective solutions supported by a reporting and monitoring mechanism.
   
With over 86 million people without electricity, the Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) drastically pushed to deploy off-grid solutions, which if not properly managed, could escalate waste crises across the country, especially in rural communities, where the capacity to manage the waste is limited.  
   
Speaking in Abuja, stakeholders at the National Capacity Building Training one and two on a Joint Data Monitoring System for the Management of Used Off-Grid Renewable Energy Equipment, gathered key players from federal and state governments to strengthen Nigeria’s circular economy ambitions.
   
The training, part of the EU-UNIDO project promoting small hydropower development and circular economy practices in Nigeria, focused specifically on component two — advancing the country’s green and just transition to net zero by embedding circular economy principles into the management of used renewable energy equipment and plastics.
   
Speaking at the event, National Programme Officer for UNIDO, Osuji Out said the training would enhance data management capacity for effective collection, monitoring, and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
   
Out, while reaffirming UNIDO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts towards net zero waste management and integration of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and circular economy principles, said the training is targeted at data experts from federal government, states, and producers.  
     
Director of Inspection and Enforcement at the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr Christopher Beka stressed the urgency of the initiative. “Nigeria is ramping up renewable energy deployment, especially in rural areas, but every solar panel, inverter, and battery has a lifespan, they will all become waste,” he said. 
     
The aim, he stressed, is to avoid solving one problem (energy access) by creating another (mounting waste). According to him, the country must ensure a legacy of sustainability, seeing the problem ahead and preparing solutions now.
   
At the heart of Nigeria’s approach is the EPR framework, a policy mechanism that places the financial and organisational responsibility for post-consumer waste squarely on producers. Central to this framework is the EPR registry, a data system tracking products entering the market, monitoring waste flows, ensuring compliance, and supporting the calculation of EPR fees based on market share. 

The so-called “black box” — a software tool managing and analysing producer and importer data is essential not just for fee calculation but also for enforcement, compliance monitoring, and planning interventions across the sector.
   
Producers can meet their EPR obligations through collective schemes joining Producers Responsibility Organisations (PROs) either e-waste or for batteries or through individual schemes, and submitting their own compliance plans and data directly to authorities. 
   
Beka noted that data remained sacrosanct, adding “Without good data, a regulatory body like NESREA could lose sight of what it’s managing.”  He emphasised that even a single data officer, with the right tools and questions, can shape national strategies, streamline enforcement, and plan interventions.
   
Currently, Nigeria’s renewable energy push has risen on the backdrop of energy poverty, unstable grid, high cost of fossil fuels and rising grid tariff.
This expansion brings growing volumes of used solar panels, batteries, plastics, and e-waste. By some estimates, the volume of batteries from the renewable sector alone could hit 200 million tonnes by 2040. Without a circular economy approach, this surge could create a waste management crisis.
   
The circular economy project under the EU-UNIDO banner aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and pollution through better policy frameworks, regulatory systems, and capacity-building.