Weak Enforcement, Poor Funding Hamper Nigeria’s Fight Against Environmental Hazards, Experts Say

Experts have warned that inadequate funding and weak enforcement of environmental regulations are undermining Nigeria’s ability to prevent environmental hazards.

Miranda Amachree, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR), made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technologies (UK MEET) Fellowship. The session focused on artificial intelligence (AI), electronic waste and environmental sustainability.

She was responding to a question on why potentially harmful products often enter the market without adequate checks to guard against environmental and public health risks.

Amachree, a former Director of Inspection and Enforcement at the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said the country does not lack environmental laws, but implementation remains the problem.

She noted that authorities are expected to assess environmental impacts and take preventive action before harm occurs.

Amachree also pointed to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle, which makes manufacturers responsible for their products throughout their life cycle, including disposal. She said this would push producers to rethink product designs and cut waste.

“If they are responsible for these products’ end of life, they would be forced to go back to their designs and make the necessary adjustment, because it’s their business and money at stake,” she said.

According to her, when manufacturers are not held accountable, the government is left to bear the cost of managing discarded products, which further strains public funds.

She identified inadequate funding as a key reason government agencies tend to react to environmental hazards instead of preventing them.

“Funding, based on my experience in the system, is a big issue why we see that government most times are reactive instead of being proactive, so what they do is look for partners everywhere,” she said.

Amachree urged journalists to use their platforms to demand accountability from public institutions and push authorities to fulfil their environmental duties.

“When you (journalists) begin to shame them to their responsibilities, they will do the right thing,” she said.

The discussion also covered e-waste management, battery recycling and public awareness of proper waste disposal.

Ibukun Faluyi, a sustainability consultant at Vicinia Solutions Limited, said effective collection and recycling systems are needed to recover valuable materials from discarded electronic products.

Kingsley Jeremiah, Energy and Power Editor at The Guardian Newspapers, said a gap persists between environmental policies and public understanding of waste management. He suggested that collection centres also serve as training points for informal waste collectors, equipping them with knowledge of safe handling and recycling practices.

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