Lara Adejoro
The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled a new digital platform aimed at formalising Nigeria’s waste value chain by connecting waste generators, collectors, recyclers, aggregators, and end-users within a transparent and traceable system.
The platform was launched during a sensitisation workshop and unveiling of the National Waste Marketplace Programme, themed “Digitising and Formalising the Circular Economy Through Technology,” held in Abuja.
Organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency in collaboration with Recycle Stack Limited, the initiative brought together key stakeholders in waste management and recycling to discuss strategies for advancing a circular economy in Nigeria.
The platform is designed to create economic linkages within the recycling ecosystem, enhance environmental compliance, and promote sustainable production and consumption patterns. It also aims to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035 through training, certification, and inclusion in the formal waste economy.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, represented by Yunus Abdulganiyu, a director in the ministry, said Nigeria loses millions of tonnes of recyclable materials annually to indiscriminate disposal.
“This programme advances circular economy principles and modernises waste management standards by ensuring materials are reused, repurposed, and reintegrated into production cycles,” Lawal said.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the National Policy on Solid Waste Management, the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme, and global commitments under the Basel Convention, Paris Agreement, and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Director-General of NESREA, Prof Innocent Barikor, said the initiative represents a bold step toward using digital innovation to turn waste into economic value.
“The programme will create new economic opportunities, improve traceability, and establish a regulated secondary materials market. It will also train and certify thousands of youths and micro-enterprises in circular business models,” Barikor said.
Recycle Stack CEO, Nkem Orakwe, said the platform would transform Nigeria’s waste management landscape and elevate the role of waste pickers.
“Waste is becoming wealth. This programme will formalise and empower waste workers, ensuring they are trained, insured, and financially included. Our goal is to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035,” he stated.
Orakwe added that the digital marketplace would not only monetise waste but also drive youth entrepreneurship, green job creation, and position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s circular economy.
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