The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has rejected calls by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to suspend the newly introduced National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, insisting that the reforms are critical to addressing Nigeria’s growing plastic pollution crisis and advancing a sustainable circular economy.
The environmental regulator said the country could no longer sustain a plastics system that allows products to enter the market without adequate responsibility for their recovery, recycling and environmentally sound disposal.
Defending the regulations amid growing industry concerns, NESREA maintained that the framework is not designed to undermine manufacturing activities but to tackle the environmental and economic consequences of unmanaged plastic waste, including blocked drainage systems, flooding, ecosystem degradation, marine pollution and public health risks.
The agency warned that suspending the regulations would delay urgently needed reforms and undermine confidence among investors, recyclers, development partners and businesses already positioning for a transition to a circular economy.
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the regulations were introduced to reduce plastic pollution, improve resource efficiency, encourage recycling and create a sustainable plastics economy capable of generating jobs and attracting investment.
Barikor dismissed claims that the regulations amount to a blanket ban on single-use plastics or would disrupt manufacturing operations and increase reliance on imported materials.
According to the agency, the controversial 80-micron provision under Regulation 26 applies only to specific categories of plastic bags and should not be interpreted as a prohibition on all plastic packaging used in sectors such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and logistics.
“It is misleading to present the regulations as a wholesale ban on all plastic packaging or all single-use plastics,” NESREA stated.
The agency explained that the regulations provide for phased implementation, giving manufacturers and other stakeholders sufficient time to adjust their operations and investments.
Under the framework, the minimum recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) content requirement will commence on January 1, 2028, with a 25 per cent threshold before increasing to 50 per cent from January 1, 2030.
NESREA said the implementation timeline would allow manufacturers, recyclers and brand owners to strengthen supply chains, expand recycling capacity and make the necessary investments to meet compliance requirements.
The regulator argued that the greater threat to Nigeria’s economy is the continued mismanagement of plastic waste, which contributes to environmental degradation, flooding, public health concerns and the loss of recyclable materials that could support domestic industries.
It noted that the new regulations have the potential to unlock significant opportunities in waste collection, sorting, recycling, packaging innovation, logistics and environmental compliance services.
According to the agency, a properly implemented circular plastics economy could create thousands of green jobs across the formal and informal sectors while stimulating investment in recycling infrastructure and secondary raw-material production.
Addressing concerns about possible increases in consumer goods prices, NESREA maintained that the cost of environmental inaction remains far greater, citing expenses associated with environmental remediation, sanitation and damage caused by flooding and pollution.
The agency said the regulations are founded on the internationally recognised polluter-pays principle, which requires producers to participate in the recovery and environmentally responsible management of products introduced into the market.
NESREA also rejected suggestions that the regulations would encourage import dependence, stressing that the framework promotes the use of locally sourced food-grade recycled PET materials, supports domestic recycling industries, conserves foreign exchange and strengthens local value chains.
The regulator emphasized that plastic pollution must be addressed throughout the entire product lifecycle, from design and production to consumption, collection, recycling and final disposal.
It further disclosed that the regulations establish mechanisms for generating reliable national data on plastic production, recovery and environmental leakage through a Central Data Collection Platform, producer reporting systems and compliance monitoring structures.
NESREA maintained that the regulations align with existing national policies and roadmaps on plastic waste management and provide the legal backing required to enforce compliance across the sector.
Describing the reforms as a defining moment in Nigeria’s environmental governance efforts, the agency stated that the country could no longer continue with a plastics system that lacks accountability for waste recovery and recycling.
Despite its firm stance, NESREA expressed willingness to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders on implementation guidelines, compliance timelines, producer responsibility schemes and support measures aimed at facilitating industrial transition.
The agency reiterated that the objective of the regulations is not to weaken local manufacturing but to reposition Nigeria’s plastics industry for competitiveness in a global economy increasingly driven by sustainability, recycled content, traceability and producer accountability.
The ongoing disagreement between environmental regulators and manufacturers is expected to shape the future direction of Nigeria’s plastics industry and test the country’s ability to balance industrial development with environmental sustainability.
