The federal government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that waste batteries are recycled using international best standards in order to prevent negative health effects linked to improper management and save the environment from other detrimental effects.
This promise was made by Environment Minister, Balarabe Lawal, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, while addressing a group of stakeholders who gathered in Abuja to attend a two-day international conference on upgrading the lead-acid battery recycling sector.
“We will take all necessary steps to enforce best practices in the battery sector. This includes supporting recycling facilities that adhere to regulations and holding non-compliant ones accountable,” he stated at the event hosted by the National Environmental Standards and Standards Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in conjunction with SRADeV, on behalf of Oeko-Istitut Germany.
Nigeria is still suffering from poor management of discarded lead-acid batteries, particularly in the informal sector, where unregulated recyclers emphasise profit over environmental and health safety. The minister noted that the government is already taking steps to address the issue by formalising the sector.
The nation’s environment boss urged stakeholders to invest in formal recycling and battery waste management systems, which would contribute to a more sustainable and safe future for battery recycling.
In his welcome address, Director General/CEO of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, hinted that the gathering marks a significant milestone in the continent’s collective efforts to promote responsible and sustainable battery recycling practices, especially under the Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET) Project.
He said PROBAMET had laid a firm foundation while urging African countries to build on it by encouraging investments in cleaner and more efficient recycling technologies to mitigate environmental and health hazards.
Furthermore, the DG added that it has helped to strengthen the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to ensure long-term industry participation in battery waste management, as well as improved regional cooperation to promote harmonised policies, facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange, and foster regulatory alignment among African nations.
Dr. Innocent Barikor expressed appreciation to the German government for their support towards standardising the battery recycling sector.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, represented by the Programme Component and Implementation Manager for GIZ, Mr. Joshua Garba, pledged that Germany would continue to support Nigeria to achieve sustainable management of used batteries.
Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director at Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), lauded Nigeria as having a more robust plan in battery management with nine recycling facilities.
However, beyond having these battery recycling plants, Dr. Adogame is also concerned about maintaining best practices in carrying out their activities.
“But it is not just enough to have nine recycling facilities. How standard enough are they to compete with global best practices?” he questioned.
As a result, he encouraged the federal government to implement regulations that will protect the interests of host communities and future generations.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja