The Federal Government has introduced strategic Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) methodologies for the mapping of industrial waste hotspots and data capture of resource consumption, including water and chemicals, as well as waste.

Already, a study had begun to help the government to develop data of industrial resource consuming and waste producing enterprises for informed industrial legal framework, maximised environmental, enterprise gain and improved human health.

This was revealed by Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Kambari, at a one-day Review Meeting with selected industries organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to implement a Global Environment Facility (GEF) project.

The project titled “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance & Resource Efficient Cleaner Production through Programmatic Approaches & the Promotion of Innovation in Clean Technology Solutions”, was conceived for the Federal Government by the Federal Ministry of Environment with the assistance of UNIDO.

This is aimed at accelerating the adoption of industrial energy efficiency (IEE) and improving enterprise environmental performance under the wider umbrella of RECP best practices and innovative approaches within selected small, medium and large-scale industrial enterprises in Nigeria.

It will also explore how government, development and cooperation organizations can more effectively collaborate with Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to drive the circularity transitions among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Kambari represented by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department, Dr (Mrs) Bahijjahtu Abubakar, explained that the meeting is an opportunity to bring together key industrial players to discuss common challenges faced by SMEs in the implementation of policies and regulatory frameworks and showcase successful partnership between government and industries to guide mutual industrial relations with the regulators.

He said, “The concept of IEE and RECP has been acclaimed for several economic, environmental, and social benefits it can provide. However, the implementation of IEE/RECP continues facing problems and barriers, such as the lack of detailed information, expertise, tools, and techniques that can be employed systematically to achieve the desired results.

“Therefore, a series of awareness programmes in the RECP space has been developed in line with RECP methodologies, to create awareness and enhance the technical capacities of relevant enterprises to enhance institutional capacity to domesticate the concept of environmental management system in the country, which can actively steer the promotion and implementation of RECP and other innovative low-carbon and application of continuous preventive integrated environmental strategies across different industrial subsectors.”

Nigeria is a signatory to the UN climate protocols, other environmental agreements and has pledged commitments through our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which requires a transition to a low-carbon, greener economy, environmentally friendly production processes and outputs, preventing environmental degradation, mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG) that will help Nigeria meet its unconditional (20 per cent) and conditional (47 per cent) emission reduction targets.

Kambari noted that the project will assist the Federal Government in promoting resource efficiency and cleaner production of the industrial sector as an instrument of meeting its environmental sound management obligations, through technology innovation, often leading to the introduction of paradigm-shifting techniques and changes in the way we live.

According to him, the initiative will entrench Energy System Optimization and Environmental Management Systems through IEE, RECP and circular economy into the nation’s industrial sector by adapting UNIDO’s well-proven EMS/ISO 14000 standards.

The RECP Working Group Lead, Morgan Chigbo, an engineer, noted that with an ever-growing consumption demand and upcoming shortages of resources, material efficiency is an important part of manufacturing companies’ operational strategies. He added that some companies are challenged by the radical programme of resource efficiency and cleaner production.

“RECP assessment is a systemic and planned procedure for identifying, quantifying and finding options to minimise waste. Its implementation will increase profit and simultaneously reduce the need for end-of-pipe pollution control. It may include substituting different materials, modifying processes, upgrading equipment and redesigning products,” he added.