The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has stepped up its campaign for a circular economy model, as environmental experts and industry stakeholders called for an urgent shift to clean energy and a gradual reduction of fossil fuel dependence in Nigeria.
This was the central theme of an environmental symposium titled "Circular Economy and Green Financing for Nigeria's Sustainable Development," held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State. The event featured technical sessions covering closed-loop industrial systems, decarbonisation, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), green financing, pre-shipment environmental compliance, and emerging digital tools for waste tracking and industrial reporting.
Participants also examined risk-based environmental optimisation, carbon reduction strategies, spatial technology for circularity, and regulatory compliance frameworks that guide sustainable industrial practices in Nigeria.
Experts Call for Shift from Linear to Circular Economy
Experts at the symposium stressed the urgent need for industries to abandon the traditional linear economic model, often described as "cradle to grave," and adopt a circular system where waste is reused as raw material in a regenerative cycle. Mr. Olufemi John Fadare of NESREA Southwest stated that facilities must now fully comply with circular economy principles, emphasising that waste should no longer be seen as an end product but as a resource.
Fadare explained that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has become a mandatory framework in Nigeria's waste management sector, requiring all producers to take responsibility for the entire life-cycle of their products. "The circular economy is the direction industries must embrace. We are moving from linear to a circular economy, where waste becomes another person's raw material," he said.
Decarbonisation and Renewable Energy Key to Climate Action
In his presentation, Prof. Taiwo Adewale of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, emphasised the need for aggressive decarbonisation efforts as part of Nigeria's response to climate change. He warned that continued reliance on fossil fuels has worsened environmental degradation, leading to rising temperatures, flooding, food insecurity, and ecological imbalance.
"The environment has gone beyond its threshold of resilience. We must reduce carbon emissions and embrace alternative energy," he said. Adewale urged the government and citizens to adopt renewable energy sources such as solar power while discouraging activities that accelerate deforestation and carbon emissions. He also called for improved electricity supply to reduce dependence on fuel-powered generators, adding that sustainable energy adoption would enhance long-term development outcomes.
Building Capacity for Environmental Sustainability
Speaking on the programme's objectives, Dr. Valentine Opone of ACAP Global Services Nigeria Limited said the initiative is designed as a capacity-building platform for environmental sustainability practitioners across sectors. Opone noted that Nigeria's participation in international environmental agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and Basel Convention, places additional responsibility on regulatory institutions like NESREA to ensure compliance.
He added that the training is structured to produce "trainers of trainers" who will return to their organisations to enforce environmental standards and promote sustainable industrial practices. Opone stressed the need for engineers and industry stakeholders to adopt green innovations in construction, energy use, and industrial design, including the integration of renewable energy systems and climate-friendly building materials.
The symposium also examined the role of green financing, environmental data systems, and spatial technologies in strengthening Nigeria's circular economy transition.
