Lagos, June 5, 2026 — The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has praised President Bola Tinubu for policy efforts and programmes aimed at advancing environmental sustainability, waste management reforms, and the development of a circular economy in the country.
The commendation was given by the association’s National President, Dr Olugbenga Adebola, in an interview on Friday in Lagos.
Adebola said the administration has shown consistent commitment to environmental protection through initiatives designed to generate employment, strengthen climate resilience, and support long-term sustainable growth.
He noted that Tinubu’s interest in structured waste management dates back to his tenure as Lagos State governor, when the Private Sector Participation (PSP) model for waste collection was introduced.
According to him, the model significantly improved waste handling in Lagos and has since been adopted as a reference framework by several states and some African countries.
Adebola also recalled that AWAMN had previously recognised Tinubu for his contributions to environmental sanitation and job creation.
He highlighted the development and validation of Nigeria’s first Cleantech Innovation Policy as one of the key milestones under the current administration, noting that it is expected to drive green industrialisation and create over 500,000 jobs across various sectors.
He further pointed to the Sustainable Energy Access Project, which targets implementation across all 774 local government areas and is projected to generate close to one million jobs.
Adebola said ongoing circular economy initiatives, including agro-waste conversion projects, cassava value chain expansion, and research commercialisation efforts, are helping to reduce waste while boosting economic value.
He also mentioned plans for a Green and Blue Methanol Industrial Complex, describing it as a step toward strengthening Nigeria’s position in Africa’s clean energy transition.
The AWAMN leader commended the Federal Ministry of Environment for advancing national waste management frameworks and plastic waste regulations, adding that full implementation could generate millions of direct and indirect jobs.
He cited progress under the Climate Change Act, emissions reduction efforts, and programmes promoting cleaner cooking energy through expanded access to liquefied petroleum gas as further evidence of policy direction.
Adebola also praised initiatives such as the Greening the Sahel programme, which focuses on tackling desertification through large-scale afforestation efforts in northern Nigeria.
He noted reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at reducing gas flaring and encouraging cleaner production practices, as well as Nigeria’s growing participation in global climate commitments and sustainability reporting standards.
He further referenced sanitation campaigns targeting the elimination of open defecation by 2030, the Energy Transition Plan, carbon market reforms, and efforts to establish a climate investment fund.
According to him, green financing mechanisms are expected to provide long-term funding support for environmental and waste-related projects.
Adebola also described the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative as a major intervention expected to reduce emissions and lower transportation costs, noting that waste operators could also benefit from cleaner fuel adoption.
He urged state governments to domesticate and implement federal environmental policies, stressing that waste management remains a shared constitutional responsibility.
Adebola expressed optimism that ongoing reforms would continue to boost job creation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability across the country.