Country Status
Nigeria is the most populous country and the third largest e-waste generator in Africa. While Nigeria has established policy and regulatory foundations for e-waste management, including an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system, formal collection and recycling remain limited and waste management continues to be strongly influenced by informal collection and treatment practices.
Nigeria’s e-waste challenge is driven by both domestic consumption and the importation of used electrical and electronic equipment. The country has strengthened its framework through the National Environmental (Electrical/Electronic Sector) Regulations, revised in 2022, and the implementation of EPR through national institutions including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the E-waste Producer Responsibility Organisation Nigeria (EPRON). However, barriers remain in relation to collection coverage, access to formal recyclers, traceability, financing and the integration of informal actors into environmentally sound management systems.
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E-Waste Generated (million kg): 497
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E-Waste Generated (kg per capita): 2,3
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E-Waste Documented as Formally Collected and Recycled:
N/A
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E-Waste Policy, Legislation or Regulation:
Yes
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EPR on E-Waste:
Yes
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Collection Target in Place: Yes
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Recycling Target in Place: No
ITU and E-waste in Nigeria
ITU is supporting work on e-waste management in Nigeria under the ITU–United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Digital Access Programme. Building on stakeholder consultations, ITU and partners are developing a postal service-led e-waste reverse logistics pilot that would leverage the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), its national postal and logistics network, collection routes, physical infrastructure and digital systems to collect, transport, aggregate and channel end-of-life ICT and electronic equipment to licensed recycling facilities. The pilot is being developed in collaboration with national and international stakeholders, including NESREA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), EPRON, NIPOST and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with the objective of strengthening EPR implementation, improving formal collection and recycling, and testing a scalable model for environmentally sound e-waste management in Nigeria.
In addition, Nigeria takes part in the International Exchange Initiative on Regulating E-waste and Engaging Tech Companies, implemented by ITU in partnership with the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC Colombia). The initiative brings together Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa to exchange best practices and lessons learned on e-waste regulation, EPR implementation, collection and recycling systems, private sector engagement and sustainable financing. Nigeria’s participation enables national focal points and relevant institutions, including NCC and NESREA, to contribute the country’s experience with recently revised e-waste regulation and EPR implementation, while drawing practical lessons from other participating countries.