Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has called on industries operating in the state to move beyond mere compliance with environmental regulations and adopt circular economy principles to minimize waste and enhance production efficiency. Represented by Commissioner for Environment Dr. Ola Oresanya, Abiodun made the appeal at the third annual Industrial Waste Management workshop organized by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority in Abeokuta. The workshop's theme was "Beyond Compliance: Embedding Circular Economy Principles and Innovation into Industrial Waste Management in Ogun State."
Abiodun emphasized that industrial development must go hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility, as Ogun State is Nigeria's foremost industrial hub. He noted that Nigeria generates over 35 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with Ogun accounting for more than one million tonnes, and industrial waste constituting a significant proportion. The governor warned that the state government would enforce relevant laws against offenders and disclosed that a state policy on climate change was being reviewed to integrate resource efficiency and circular economy principles into development planning.
The governor listed several measures being implemented to promote resource recovery, including the Blue Box Initiative, Plastic for Cash Programme, and the establishment of packaging waste collection and aggregation centers. The Blue Box Initiative, launched in 2025, promotes waste segregation at the household level, while recycling depots and material recovery operations are expanding across the state's three senatorial districts. The Plastic for Cash Programme has created opportunities for women, youths, and low-income households through incentives for plastic waste recovery.
Commissioner for Environment Dr. Ola Oresanya stressed that the industrial sector must prioritize waste prevention, segregation, recovery, safe handling, and responsible disposal. Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Farouk Akintunde, warned industries against under-declaring their waste volumes, open burning, and indiscriminate dumping, saying offenders would face sanctions. Akintunde emphasized that such practices contravene Section 27 of the OGWAMA Law 2020 and that industries found violating the law would be sanctioned.
Akintunde urged industries facing challenges in managing their waste to seek solutions from the authority rather than resorting to illegal practices. He noted that adopting circular economy principles would enable industries to reduce waste, improve production processes, and generate additional income from materials previously regarded as waste. The OGWAMA boss assured industries of cooperation in embedding circular economy principles and innovations into industrial waste management in Ogun State.
Akintunde disclosed that OGWAMA had refurbished several moribund compactors in its fleet and purchased new ones to strengthen industrial waste management operations. He added that the authority had offset backlogs of commercial and industrial payments owed to its Private Sector Participation operators before he assumed office and had continued to pay their dues promptly. The annual workshop has evolved over the past three years from raising awareness to producing practical changes in industrial waste management.
The Ogun State government is committed to ensuring that industrial growth is accompanied by sound environmental management. The government's efforts aim to reduce waste, recover resources, and improve production efficiency, while promoting a circular economy and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The state government's initiatives have created opportunities for women, youths, and low-income households through incentives for waste recovery and recycling.
Key points
- Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has urged industries to adopt circular economy principles to minimize waste and enhance production efficiency.
- The state government has implemented measures to promote resource recovery, including the Blue Box Initiative and Plastic for Cash Programme.
- Industries found violating environmental laws and regulations will face sanctions, including penalties for under-declaring waste volumes and engaging in open burning and indiscriminate dumping.
