Nigeria implementing policies to reduce methane emissions from waste—FG

Federal government is implementing policies to reduce methane emissions from dumpsites and promote sustainable waste management practices across the country.

Environment minister, Balarabe Lawal, stated this at a stakeholder engagement workshop on the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria Project on Friday in Abuja.

The National Council on Climate Change organised the workshop in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change Matters and Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development Nigeria.

Mr Lawal described methane as a potent greenhouse gas emitted from dumpsites. He said the ministry was promoting its “Waste-to-Wealth” mandate, urging Nigerians to adopt responsible waste management practices and convert waste into useful economic resources.

The minister also warned that human activities contribute to flooding, stressing the need for residents to manage waste and avoid indiscriminate disposal into drainage channels.

Omotenioye Majekodunmi, the director-general of NCCC, said MAMRN was designed to advance methane mitigation efforts in Nigeria’s waste sector.

Ms Majekodunmi said the project would support the development of a National Action Plan for Methane Reduction in the Waste Sector. She added that the project would strengthen policies, stakeholder capacity and sustainable waste management practices.

She commended SRADeV Nigeria, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change Matters and other partners for supporting efforts to address methane emissions.

According to her, methane is among the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, making its reduction critical to slowing temperature increases and achieving global climate goals.

She said methane mitigation was particularly important to Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, stating that open dumping and poor waste management significantly contributed to emissions.

When the waste sector challenges are addressed, she said it would deliver environmental, public health, economic and social benefits, including cleaner communities, green jobs, resource efficiency and improved quality of life.

She said effective waste management would strengthen Nigeria’s circular economy by promoting resource recovery, reducing environmental pollution and creating opportunities for sustainable economic development and employment.

The NCCC, she said, remained committed to supporting initiatives that accelerate emission reductions while promoting sustainable development, stressing that stakeholder collaboration was essential to achieving practical and implementable solutions.

She assured stakeholders that the NCCC would provide technical guidance and coordination support to develop and implement the National Action Plan on methane reduction in Nigeria’s waste sector.

She said the council would work with the Federal Ministry of Environment, SRADeV, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure the workshop outcomes translate into measurable actions.

She said the challenge of methane emissions was significant, but collaboration could transform waste from an environmental liability into a valuable resource while strengthening climate resilience and public health.

She added that such efforts would create green jobs, reduce methane emissions and accelerate Nigeria’s transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable future.

Leslie Adogame, the executive director of SRADeV, called for proper solid waste management to reduce methane emissions and mitigate their impact on climate change.

He said solid waste was a potential source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. He reiterated the need for effective waste management practices, saying waste generators must take responsibility for properly managing the waste they produce.

“Waste management has to be properly carried out to reduce methane emissions in the environment,” he said.

Mr Adogame said an action plan was necessary to ensure effective waste management, adding that SRADeV was committed to the global target of reducing methane emissions by 30 per cent.

He commended Nigeria for developing a robust waste management policy framework and urged stakeholders to sustain efforts to reduce methane emissions. NAN