The federal government will enforce the 'Producer Pays Principle' in the beverages and packaging sector by 2026, shifting from voluntary to mandatory compliance. Innocent Barikor, director-general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), made the announcement at a stakeholders workshop in Lagos. He stated that producers, importers, and brand owners must now legally manage the full lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste collection and recycling. This responsibility is no longer optional corporate social responsibility but a regulatory requirement under the upcoming National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026. Barikor described the National Guidelines for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme as a roadmap for compliance, setting annual targets for recycling and defining roles for producers and Producer Responsibility Organisations. He emphasized that the EPR is not a tax and urged all producers to register with NESREA for effective monitoring. The guidelines also standardize reporting formats and recognize collaboration with groups like the Food Beverage Recycling Alliance.
Innocent Barikor is betting that naming recycling targets and forcing registration will finally make producers act, not just talk. For years, plastic waste has choked Nigerian cities while companies pledged vague green initiatives. Now, with hard deadlines and legal mandates due by 2026, the burden shifts squarely onto brand owners. If enforced, this could reshape how products are designed and discarded in Nigeria.
