The Federal Government, on Thursday, unveiled an innovative digital platform designed to formalise the country’s waste value chain by connecting waste generators, collectors, aggregators, recyclers, and end-users in a transparent and traceable system.
The platform was launched at a sensitisation workshop and the unveiling of the National Waste Marketplace Programme, themed “Digitising and formalising the circular economy through technology,” in Abuja.
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The initiative, organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency in collaboration with Recycle Stack Limited, brought together stakeholders from across the waste management and recycling sectors to discuss strategies for advancing a circular economy in Nigeria.
By leveraging technology, the platform aims to create economic linkages across the recycling ecosystem while promoting environmental compliance, material recovery, and sustainable production and consumption patterns.
The platform seeks to formalise and scale the circular economy with a vision to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, highlighted that Nigeria faces a complex waste management challenge, with millions of tonnes of recyclable materials lost to indiscriminate disposal each year, harming the environment, public health, and economic efficiency.
Lawal, who was represented by one of the directors in the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the ministry, Yunus Abdulganiyu said, “This programme is therefore an apt opportunity for closing the capacity gap by advancing circular economy principles in the national waste management system and modernising the sector’s operational standards, in which waste materials are valorized, reused, repurposed, and reincorporated into production cycles. This approach mitigates the linearity of conventional waste while ensuring traceability and transparency of transactions.
“This initiative is consistent with the implementation framework of the National Policy on Solid Waste Management, the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme, and the National Circular Economy Roadmap.
“It also aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under global environmental agreements such as the Basel Convention, the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, it supports Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, 14, and 15, which focus on responsible consumption and production, climate action, and sound governance for land and oceans. As we advance towards a circular economy, it is essential to recognise that environmental protection is not only a regulatory obligation but also a driver of innovation and green growth.”
The Minister stated that the National Waste Marketplace, through regulatory reform, private sector involvement, and technological innovation, will enhance transparency, support environmental planning, and boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s recycling industry.
“Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level” (Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration). Without prejudice, sustainable resource development revolves around a multi-tiered, cohesive effort and a willingness to achieve transformative change.
“Specifically, we are collectively obligated to translate our burdens of sustainable natural resource management into practical actions and innovative solutions, with the inclusive participation of all critical actors,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, stated that the initiative builds on ongoing national efforts to promote an inclusive circular economy and advance sustainable waste management in Nigeria.
“The launch of the NWMP represents a bold and innovative initiative by NESREA to harness digital technology in solving one of the country’s most pressing environmental challenges: the effective management of waste as a resource rather than as a liability.
“The National Waste Marketplace Programme is a digital platform designed to connect waste generators, collectors, recyclers, aggregators, and end-users within a transparent and traceable system. It seeks to formalise the waste value chain, curb illegal disposal practices, and promote accountability in waste trading and recycling across the country.
“Beyond technology, the NWMP embodies a vision—a vision of Nigeria where waste management becomes a driver of innovation, youth empowerment, and green enterprise. The Programme aligns with the objectives of the Extended Producer Responsibility framework implemented by NESREA, ensuring that producers, recyclers, collectors, and consumers play defined roles in safeguarding our environment and conserving natural resources.
“The Programme will also create new economic opportunities by providing verified market linkages, improving traceability in recycling activities, and supporting the establishment of a regulated secondary materials market. Through this initiative, we aim to train and certify thousands of Nigerian youths and micro-enterprises in circular business models, thereby creating decent green jobs and stimulating sustainable growth,” he noted.
On his part, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Recycle Stack Limited, Nkem Orakwe, emphasized that the platform is poised to transform Nigeria’s waste management ecosystem by introducing a digitised national waste marketplace.
According to Orakwe, the initiative seeks to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035 through training, certification, and integration into a formalised circular economy.
He said, “Waste is becoming wealth, and that is why we are introducing this programme. The initiative intends to revolutionize Nigeria’s waste management ecosystem through a digitised national waste marketplace by enabling skills training, certification, and data-driven insights.
“The platform seeks to formalise and scale the circular economy with a vision to empower 10 million Nigerians by 2035. This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, promoting green jobs, sustainable urban development, and environmental stewardship across the country.
“The National Waste Marketplace connects every actor in Nigeria’s waste value chain through a digitised, transparent, and data-driven platform. The key actors will be the waste pickers. Through this programme, we will formalize them, and in a few years, there will be deep mutual respect for waste pickers in Nigeria. When we bring them into the formal sector, they will be empowered. With financial inclusion, they will be insured, trained, and certified.”
Orakwe added that the programme will not only monetise waste but also foster innovation, youth entrepreneurship, green job creation, and position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s circular economy.
