NESREA Defends Plastic Waste Rules, Says Policy Targets Pollution

• Agency says clarification made in response to concerns raised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has said that the National Environmental Plastic Waste Control Regulations 2026 are aimed at tackling pollution and promoting a circular economy, not shutting down industries.

The agency made the clarification in response to concerns raised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), saying some interpretations of the regulations are inaccurate and misleading.

NESREA said the rules provide a phased and consultative framework designed to improve recycling, producer responsibility, waste recovery and sustainable packaging across the value chain.

It stressed that the widely cited 80 micron requirement applies only to certain plastic carrier bags and does not amount to a blanket ban on single use plastics.

According to the agency, sensitive sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals and logistics are covered by separate provisions, while major requirements on recycled PET content will only begin to take effect from 2028 and 2030.

NESREA said the transition period is intended to give manufacturers and recyclers time to adjust operations and strengthen supply chains.

The agency argued that unregulated plastic pollution poses greater long term risks, including flooding, public health hazards and environmental degradation, adding that the regulations would create new opportunities in recycling and circular economy services.

It also maintained that the policy is guided by the polluter pays principle and is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic recycling industry.

NESREA said it remains open to technical input from manufacturers and other stakeholders as implementation progresses.

Gentechnews had earlier reported that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to suspend the proposed ban on single-use plastics below 80 microns, warning that the policy could trigger widespread economic disruptions, job losses, and increased production costs across the country.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, as manufacturers expressed concern over the proposed implementation of the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2026, which seeks to prohibit the production and use of single-use plastic products below 80 microns in thickness and impose taxes on certain categories of shopping bags listed in the Eleventh Schedule.

The association argued that the measures could significantly affect industrial production, investments in the plastics value chain, threaten thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and impose substantial socio-economic costs on manufacturers and consumers alike.