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The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reduce methane emissions from dumpsites and promote sustainable waste management practices as part of measures to address climate change and strengthen Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement workshop on the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN) Project held on Friday in Abuja.

The workshop was organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change Matters and Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV) Nigeria.

Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Omotunde Adeola, described methane as a potent greenhouse gas generated from dumpsites and other waste management activities.

He said the Federal Government was promoting its “Waste-to-Wealth” mandate, which seeks to encourage Nigerians to adopt responsible waste management practices while turning waste into useful economic resources.

According to him, improving how Nigerians generate, collect, sort, recycle and dispose of waste would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also create economic opportunities across the waste value chain.

The minister also linked poor waste management to flooding, warning residents against indiscriminate disposal of waste in drainage channels.

He urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their waste, particularly by avoiding practices that block drainage systems and worsen flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

The MAMRN project is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to address methane emissions from the waste sector and support the development of a National Action Plan for Methane Reduction in Waste.

The Director-General of the NCCC, Mrs Omotenioye Majekodunmi, represented by the Director of Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr Michael Ivenso, said the project would provide a framework for advancing methane mitigation efforts in Nigeria’s waste sector.

She said the initiative would strengthen policies, build stakeholder capacity and promote sustainable waste management practices across the country.

Majekodunmi said methane reduction was critical to Nigeria’s climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, particularly because open dumping and poor waste management contribute significantly to methane emissions.

She explained that addressing methane emissions from the waste sector could deliver multiple benefits beyond climate action, including cleaner communities, improved public health, resource efficiency, green jobs and better quality of life.

“Effective waste management would strengthen Nigeria’s circular economy by promoting resource recovery, reducing environmental pollution and creating opportunities for sustainable economic development and employment,” she said.

The NCCC director-general also assured stakeholders that the council would provide technical guidance and coordination support for the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on methane reduction in Nigeria’s waste sector.

She said the council would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment, SRADeV, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of the workshop translated into measurable and implementable actions.

According to her, the challenge posed by methane emissions is significant, but stronger collaboration among government institutions, development organisations, communities and other stakeholders could transform waste from an environmental liability into an economic resource.

She added that effective methane mitigation would contribute to Nigeria’s transition towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient economy.

The Executive Director of SRADeV, Dr Leslie Adogame, also called for improved solid waste management as a practical step towards reducing methane emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Adogame said solid waste remained a potential source of methane, which contributes significantly to global warming, stressing that waste generators must take responsibility for managing the waste they produce.

“Waste management has to be properly carried out to reduce methane emissions in the environment,” he said.

He said the development of an action plan was necessary to establish clear measures for improving waste management and reducing methane emissions.

Adogame added that SRADeV remained committed to the global target of reducing methane emissions by 30 per cent and commended Nigeria for developing a policy framework for waste management.

He urged government agencies, businesses, communities and other stakeholders to sustain efforts to improve waste collection, recycling, resource recovery and disposal.

The push to reduce methane emissions from waste also presents opportunities for Nigeria’s growing circular economy. Improved waste segregation, recycling, composting and recovery systems could reduce the volume of organic waste reaching dumpsites while creating new opportunities for businesses and workers in the waste management sector.

For small and medium-sized businesses, the shift towards sustainable waste management could create opportunities in recycling, waste collection, composting, waste-to-energy solutions, environmental services and the production of goods from recovered materials.

Stakeholders at the workshop therefore stressed the importance of moving beyond policy development to practical implementation, stronger enforcement and greater public participation.

The Federal Government’s renewed focus on methane reduction signals an effort to tackle waste management not only as an environmental challenge but also as an economic and public health priority.

With stronger coordination between government institutions and private-sector and community stakeholders, the MAMRN project is expected to contribute to the development of practical solutions for reducing methane emissions while supporting cleaner communities, green employment and sustainable economic development in Nigeria.