The Minister of Environment, Balarabe A. Lawal, has stated that the government is working on the principles of a circular economy to scale up infrastructure development and enhance the country’s economic landscape.

Lawal disclosed this during a plenary session on “Empowering Interregional Partnerships for Circular Economy Transition: Towards A Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Future” at the ongoing COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Represented by the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, he stated that the country is strengthening its regulatory framework to enhance stakeholder engagement and address issues of non-compliance, limited recycling infrastructure, and insufficient enforcement capacity.

Acknowledging the role of interregional partnerships in Nigeria’s progress, the Minister explained, “As a co-founder of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), we will collaborate with global platforms like the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) to build our capacity.”

He declared that these partnerships would foster knowledge exchange, investment in technology, and capacity building, creating an enabling environment for Nigeria to scale up solutions tailored toward achieving the desired results.

“Circular economy will transform Nigeria’s construction and industrial sectors, with recycled materials integrated into products and projects, and industrial by-products repurposed as valuable inputs. Waste-to-energy will enhance resource efficiency while reducing carbon footprints,” he said.

Lawal described the programme as laudable, noting that its implementation in Nigeria through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme could offer economic opportunities such as creating jobs, fostering innovation, and unlocking avenues for sustainable development.