We’ve no intention banning plastic products – NESREA
Agency Report
Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, has said there are no plans to shut down industries, undermine investments or impose total ban on plastic products.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Prof. Innocent Barikor, who was represented by Director Inspection and Enforcement (NESREA), Dr. Christopher Beka, made this disclosure while briefing journalist in Abuja.
The National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, enforced by NESREA, establish a phased framework to curb plastic pollution and promote a circular economy. Grounded in the “polluter pays” principle, it holds manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products, rather than banning single-use plastics entirely.
He said the national environmental and circular economy instrument intended to reduce plastic pollution, strengthen producer accountability, stimulate recycling markets, improve waste recovery, promote innovation in packaging design and create new economic opportunities within Nigeria’s emerging circular economy.
Prof. Barikor provide states that a structured, phased and consultative framework for managing plastic products and plastic waste across the entire value chain.
He states that the concerns raised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) stemmed from a misunderstanding of the scope, objectives and implementation framework of the regulations.
“The intention is not to halt production but to support a managed transition from a linear “produce-use-dispose” model to a circular model where materials are designed, recovered and reused more efficiently.
Prof. Barikor pointed on the claim that the Regulations impose a blanket 80-micron ban on all single-use plastics
“This interpretation is incorrect”.
According to him, the 80-micron provision in Regulation 26 relates specifically to certain plastic bags made from plastic film.
“It does not amount to a blanket prohibition on all plastic packaging, nor does it ban all single-use plastic products across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, agricultural, logistics or manufacturing sectors.
He emphasized that the regulations make a clear distinction between plastic carrier bags, other plastic packaging, PET containers, products with plastic components, recyclable materials and plastic waste management activities.
Prof. Barikor added that the minimum recycled PET content requirement does not take immediate effect and it begins with 25% recycled PET content from 1 January 2028 and increases to 50% from 1 January 2030.
