The Japanese government has pledged additional support for Nigeria’s plastic waste management efforts through the second phase of the project, Accelerating a Circular Plastic Economy to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Its Impacts in Africa.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, highlighted the success of the initial phase, funded by the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB1), which facilitated stakeholder engagement, the development of national guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging, and an EPR enforcement plan.
During a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor, Suzuki expressed satisfaction with NESREA’s commitment to the project. He confirmed that the second phase, funded under JSB2, will commence in March 2025 and build on earlier initiatives.
The next phase will focus on developing reuse and refill systems to reduce pollution from water sachets, conducting feasibility studies for reuse solutions, engaging stakeholders, and addressing financial gaps in tackling single-use plastic pollution.
Dr. Barikor thanked the Japanese government for its continued support, noting that the partnership has strengthened Nigeria’s efforts toward a circular plastic economy. He also expressed interest in learning from Japan’s advanced waste management systems to enhance Nigeria’s environmental sustainability.
