By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Minister for Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has pledged the sanitization and enforcement of best practices in line with globally acceptable standards in the battery sector.
Amaka Ejiofor, Assistant Director, Press, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), disclosed this in a press release.
She said the Minister made the pledge while interacting with the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET) team on the sidelines of the International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector in the African Region, held Tuesday in Abuja, the Nigerian Capital.
According to her “The Conference, which brought to a close, activities under PROBAMET, was organized by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), on behalf of Oeko-Istitut Germany.
“The Minister lamented the unsound handling of used lead acid batteries particularly in the informal sector where unregulated recyclers prioritize profit over environmental and health safety, stating that the Nigerian government was already taking steps to formalize 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.”
“Earlier in his welcome address at the opening of the Conference, the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor expressed appreciation to the German Government for their support towards standardizing the battery recycling sector.
“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; Strengthening the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to ensure sustainable industry participation in battery waste management; and enhancing regional cooperation to promote harmonized policies, facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange, and foster regulatory alignment across African nations.
“The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, represented by the Programme Component and Implementation Manager for GIZ, Mr. Joshua Garba said the Germans would continue to support Nigeria to achieve sustainable management of used batteries.
“The Conference drew participation from development partners including Initiative for Global Solidarity; Alliance for Rural Electrification, Platform Bei, the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling, and representatives from Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana.
“Also in attendance were the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Honourable Terseer Ugbor; the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Engr. Dr. Mrs B.H Abubakar ; Director General of the National Agency for Great Green Wall, Saleh Abubakar; Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr. Felix Odumegwu; Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya and the Ologijo of Ogijo Kingdom, Oba Kazeem Badamosi.”
