FG pledges to enforce best practices in battery sector
By Doris Esa
The Federal Government has pledged to continue sanitising the battery sector and enforcing best practices in line with globally accepted standards.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, made the commitment while interacting with the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET) team.
The interaction took place on the sidelines of the International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector in the African Region, held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The event was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), and supported by international partners.
The minister highlighted the unsound handling of used lead-acid batteries, particularly in the informal sector, where unregulated recyclers prioritised profit over environmental and health safety.
Lawal stated that the Nigerian government was already taking steps to formalise the 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 said.
Dr Innocent Barikor, the Director-General of NESREA, thanked the German government for its support in standardising the battery recycling sector.
Barikor emphasised that PROBAMET had laid a solid foundation and urged African countries to build on it by encouraging investments in cleaner and more efficient recycling technologies to mitigate environmental and health hazards.
He further stated that this would strengthen the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, ensuring sustainable industry participation in battery waste management.
Barikor also called for enhanced regional cooperation to promote harmonised policies, facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange, and foster regulatory alignment across African nations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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