Stakeholders in Nigeria’s recycling sector have urged the Federal Government to introduce tax incentives and strengthen policy implementation to unlock the full economic potential of waste management and tackle unemployment.
The Vice President of the Recyclers Association of Nigeria, RAN, Victor Okunola, said government support must go beyond policy formulation to include effective implementation that creates an enabling environment for businesses and investors in the sector.
Okunola spoke in Calabar at the weekend, during a two-day workshop organised by UNICEF with support from Cross River State ministry of environment.
He noted that under the Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, framework driven by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, state governments are being engaged to provide incentives, including tax reliefs and shared recycling infrastructure, to boost private sector participation.
According to him, while establishing collection centres is important, the real value lies in developing businesses that can process and convert waste into economic resources, thereby driving growth and job creation.
He disclosed that about 79,000 tonnes of waste were generated annually in Cross River State as of 2024, describing it as a vast untapped opportunity for youth employment through recycling, upcycling and other circular economy initiatives.
Okunola explained that the association’s ongoing training programme in the state is aimed at equipping youths with the skills to see waste as a resource, adding that RAN would also support new entrants to establish businesses and expand the sector, particularly in eastern Nigeria where recycling is still emerging.
Also speaking at the event, a RAN member and recycling practitioner, Ola Oluwaseyi, emphasised the need for deliberate government policies backed by enforcement, noting that waste management requires strong collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Oluwaseyi, who facilitated a session on marine litter using Cross River as a case study, highlighted the environmental and health risks of poor waste disposal, stressing the need for source reduction, legal frameworks and sustained stakeholder engagement.
He identified access to finance as a major challenge for emerging recyclers but expressed optimism that partnerships, training and membership of RAN would open up funding and collaboration opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Both stakeholders commended the Cross River State Ministry of Environment for organising the training, describing it as a strategic step toward engaging youths, promoting public-private partnerships and preserving the ecosystem through sustainable waste management practices.
Waste recycling operators seek tax incentives
