We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. — Albert Einstein
The linear economic model, extract, produce, use, and dispose, has long dominated global development. But as the world grapples with the consequences of unsustainable production, climate breakdown, and growing resource scarcity, a shift towards the circular economy is gaining momentum. Countries across Europe and parts of Asia are redesigning their economies to reduce waste and extend the life cycle of materials. Yet Nigeria lags behind, both in policy readiness and practical implementation.
At its core, a circular economy is a regenerative system aimed at minimising waste and maximising value. It promotes reuse, repair, refurbishment, recycling, and sustainable production and consumption patterns. Instead of discarding materials after use, the circular economy ensures they are reintegrated into the system. This creates a closed-loop cycle, hence the name “circular economy”.
This approach has far-reaching implications, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving biodiversity to creating green jobs and strengthening local economies.
The Global Momentum
- The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan aims to halve waste generation and double circular material use by 2030.
- The Netherlands is targeting a fully circular economy by 2050.
- China has embedded circular principles into its national development strategy since 2009.
Nigeria has missed opportunities despite its potential. Nigeria remains largely locked in the linear economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022), the country generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with Lagos alone contributing more than 13,000 tonnes per day. Yet, only about 13% of this waste is recycled (World Bank, 2023).
Plastic, construction waste, and agricultural by-products present enormous untapped opportunities for value recovery. However, due to a lack of infrastructure, data, awareness, and incentives, most of it ends up in landfills or water bodies.
Why the Circular Economy Matters for Nigeria
- Environmental Protection: Nigeria is among the top 10 contributors to marine plastic pollution (UNEP, 2022).
- Economic Growth: The circular economy has the potential to create up to 6 million new jobs by 2030 (ILO, 2022).
- Resource Security: With increasing global demand for minerals, agriculture, and construction materials, circularity ensures long-term access and reduces dependence on imports.
- Climate Action: Transitioning to circular practices can reduce Nigeria’s emissions from key sectors like agriculture, industry, and waste.
What is Holding Nigeria Back?
- Weak Policy Frameworks: While there are environmental policies in place, they are fragmented and poorly enforced. There is no unified circular economy roadmap.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Waste segregation, recycling centres, and processing plants are either absent or insufficient.
- Low Public Awareness: Many Nigerians are unaware of the value of reuse and recycling.
- Limited Corporate Commitment: Few companies have embedded circularity into their ESG or CSR strategies.
Organisations like CSR-in-Action are instrumental in bridging this gap. Through thought leadership, policy engagement, and sustainability consulting, they have helped position circularity as more than a trend, but a necessity.
Their work with stakeholders in mining, energy, and manufacturing has stressed the importance of:
- Designing out waste from business processes.
- Leveraging innovation to transform by-products into raw materials.
- Educating communities on waste-to-wealth practices.
To move forward, Nigeria needs a national circular economy strategy aligned with its climate and development goals. It also requires public-private collaboration, investment in green infrastructure, and widespread education.
The Future is Circular. As global supply chains evolve and environmental consciousness deepens, countries that fail to adapt will be left behind. For Nigeria, a circular economy is not just an environmental solution — it’s an economic and social imperative.
Source: CSR-in-Action
