Industry experts have called for stronger collaboration and financing to unlock Nigeria’s waste economy, as the country seeks to transition to a circular, resource-efficient growth model.
The call was made at the 6th Lagos Waste Forum, held recently in Lagos, and organised by SWEEP Foundation NG. The 2025 edition was themed ‘The Power of Nigeria’s Waste Economy.’
Experts at the forum said Nigeria’s waste challenge presents a significant economic opportunity if supported by the right policies, infrastructure and investment framework.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, special adviser on the Environment said Lagos was positioned to lead Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy due to its scale, market size and policy direction.
“Lagos generates vast quantities of waste, but within this challenge lies a significant opportunity — one realised through structure, innovation and entrepreneurial intelligence.”
He said the state’s investments, regulatory reforms and partnerships were shifting waste management from traditional disposal models to systems centred on recycling, resource recovery and green job creation.
According to him, agencies such as the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), working with private operators, are helping to build an integrated framework that supports circular economy innovation and economic resilience.
Rotimi-Akodu, speaking in his personal capacity, also expressed support for discussions around upgrading the event into a Lagos International Waste Forum, noting that he would engage relevant authorities on the proposal.
In his welcome remarks, Obuesi Phillips, president and chief executive officer of SWEEP Foundation NG, said Nigeria’s waste sector remains largely underdeveloped despite its economic potential.
He described dumpsites as emerging “waste mines” capable of feeding materials back into productive value chains, and called for enabling policies, improved access to finance and institutional reforms.
Phillips advocated the creation of a dedicated Green Bank to provide single-digit interest loans to waste and recycling enterprises, as well as the establishment of a Ministry of Waste Resources, citing Lagos’s leadership in recycling and environmental innovation.
Delivering the forum lecture, Ola Oresanya, Ogun State commissioner for the Environment, said addressing Nigeria’s environmental challenges would require more than policy declarations.
“Solutions must be guided by research, innovation and evidence-based interventions tailored to Nigeria’s local contexts,” Oresanya said, urging capacity-building across all tiers of government and the development of a technically skilled environmental workforce.
A keynote presentation by a representative of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) highlighted the scale of Nigeria’s waste economy. The alliance said Nigeria generates about 32 million tonnes of waste annually, with plastics accounting for 13 percent.
Citing the federal government and UNDP’s Imagine Nigeria report, the FBRA representative noted that Nigeria’s green economy could be worth as much as $250 billion, adding that Lagos generated N18 billion in recycling value in 2021.
“Circularity is not just an ecological necessity, but a strategic pathway to jobs, innovation and environmental protection,” the FBRA representative said.
Panel sessions at the forum examined financing for circular enterprises, waste-to-wealth entrepreneurship, women’s leadership in environmental governance, packaging innovation, policy coordination at the sub-national level, and Nigeria’s alignment with global sustainability standards.
Stakeholders committed to deepening collaboration across government, private sector and development partners, with a focus on financing, technology adoption, capacity-building and community engagement to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a climate-smart and economically viable waste ecosystem.
The forum was organised in partnership with UNIDO, the European Union and Coca-Cola Nigeria.
