The federal government has unveiled the National Waste Marketplace Programme (NWMP) to promote an inclusive circular economy and advance sustainable waste management in Nigeria.

The national waste marketplace is 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.

Speaking at the unveiling on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said that NWMP would create economic linkages across the recycling ecosystem.

Mr Lawal, who was represented by Yunus AbdulGaniyu, Director of Pollution and Control, Ministry of Environment, said the initiative also aligned with Nigeria’s commitments under global environmental agreements.

Mr Lawal said the platform is a practical step towards mainstreaming circular economy principles in Nigeria’s waste management system and modernising the sector’s operational standards.

He stated, “By leveraging technology, the platform will create economic linkages across the recycling ecosystem while promoting environmental compliance, material recovery and sustainable production and consumption patterns.’’

The minister said the challenge of waste management in Nigeria was multifaceted.

“Each year, millions of tonnes of recyclable materials such as plastics, metals, paper, glass, organics and electrical waste are lost to indiscriminate disposal. This not only strains our environment and public health systems but also undermines our resource efficiency and industrial competitiveness,” he said.

He stated that the platform sought to address these gaps by converting waste streams into economic assets and providing a structured mechanism for resource recovery and traceable transactions.

He added, “This initiative is consistent with the implementation framework of the National Policy on Solid Waste Management, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme and the National Circular Economy Roadmap. 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.’’

In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Innocent Barikor, said the platform would advance the circular economy in Nigeria.

Mr Barikor said the programme would 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.

” NWMP is an initiative that builds on our ongoing national efforts to promote an inclusive circular economy and advance sustainable waste management in Nigeria.

”The unveiling of NWMP represents a bold and innovative step by NESREA to harness digital technology in solving one of our country’s most pressing environmental challenges.

“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 said.

In a presentation, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Recycle Stack Nigeria Ltd, Nkem Orakwe, said the initiative sought to advance towards a circular economy.

He said his organisation is revolutionising the circular economy and sustainable waste management sector in Nigeria through technology.

Mr Orakwe said that there is now a global shift to circular economies, adding that countries no longer see waste as waste but waste becoming wealth.

(NAN)