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From Idu Jude, Abuja
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has defended the implementation of the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, insisting that the policy is in the national interest and critical to tackling Nigeria’s growing plastic pollution challenge.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General of NESREA, Professor Innocent Barikor, represented by the agency’s Director of Inspection and Enforcement, Dr. Christopher Beka, dismissed concerns raised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) over the new regulation.
Barikor said the regulation is not intended to shut down industries, discourage investment or impose sudden burdens on manufacturers, but rather to promote environmental sustainability, strengthen recycling, improve waste management and drive Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.
“The regulations are a national environmental and circular economy instrument designed to reduce plastic pollution, strengthen producer accountability, stimulate recycling markets, improve waste recovery and create new economic opportunities,” he said.
NESREA clarified that claims suggesting the regulation imposes a blanket ban on single-use plastics are inaccurate. According to the agency, the much-debated 80-micron provision applies only to specific plastic carrier bags and does not prohibit all plastic packaging or single-use plastic products across sectors such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
“It is misleading to present the regulations as a wholesale ban on all plastic packaging. The focus is on eliminating problematic plastic materials that are difficult to recover and recycle,” Barikor stated.
The agency also rejected fears that the regulation would disrupt manufacturing operations, noting that implementation would be phased over several years to allow businesses sufficient time to adjust.
NESREA pointed out that the requirement for manufacturers to use recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) content in plastic packaging will begin with a minimum of 25 per cent from January 2028 and increase to 50 per cent by January 2030.
“This timeline gives manufacturers, recyclers and brand owners enough time to plan investments, build supply chains and develop local recycling capacity,” the agency said.
Addressing concerns about potential job losses and reduced investments, NESREA argued that unmanaged plastic pollution poses a greater threat to the economy than regulation.
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According to the agency, the new framework is expected to create investment opportunities in recycling, waste collection, sorting, packaging innovation, logistics and compliance services, while generating employment across both formal and informal sectors. NESREA further noted that the regulation is based on the globally accepted “polluter pays” principle, which requires producers to share responsibility for the environmental impact of products placed on the market.
The agency said the policy would ultimately reduce flooding, environmental degradation, sanitation costs and public health risks associated with plastic waste.
On concerns that the regulation could increase dependence on imported materials, NESREA maintained that the policy is designed to strengthen local industry. It highlighted provisions requiring recycled PET used for compliance to be sourced locally from certified producers, a move aimed at supporting domestic recycling businesses and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
The agency also stressed that plastic pollution cannot be addressed solely through waste collection and disposal, but requires intervention across the entire value chain, including product design, production, consumption, collection and recycling.
Barikor said the regulation builds on years of policy development, stakeholder consultations and recommendations contained in Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and the National Plastics Roadmap.
He added that the framework introduces mechanisms such as a Central Data Collection Platform, producer reporting systems and compliance monitoring tools to improve data on plastic production, recycling and environmental leakage.
NESREA ruled out suspending the regulation as demanded by some stakeholders, warning that such a move would create regulatory uncertainty, delay investments and weaken efforts to build a circular economy.
Instead, the agency called for continued engagement with MAN, recyclers, packaging producers, producer responsibility organisations and state governments to ensure smooth implementation.
“The appropriate way forward is not withdrawal, but collaborative implementation,” Barikor said.
He reaffirmed that the regulation is not anti-industry but aimed at promoting sustainable industrial development, resource efficiency, innovation and green job creation.
According to him, successful implementation will help reposition Nigeria’s plastics sector to compete in a global economy increasingly driven by recycling, producer responsibility, traceability and sustainable packaging practices.
