The Federal Government has said Nigeria’s path to industrialisation does not have to come at the expense of its environment, citing outcomes from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production (IEE & RECP) project as proof of concept.
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the close of the IEE & RECP project, a multi-partner initiative funded by GEF and implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with Nigerian institutions and the organised private sector.
Represented by Mr Bukar Babagana, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and GEF Operational Focal Point, the minister described the project not as an endpoint but as a turning point in Nigeria’s industrial development trajectory.
“Today, we close a chapter and inaugurate a legacy,” Lawal said.
“When we inaugurated ‘Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production Through Programmatic Approaches and Promotion of Innovator Clean Technology Solutions’, we asked a bold question: can Nigeria industrialise without degrading our environment? Can we power our factories without polluting our water bodies?
“Years later, the answer is clear: yes, we can, and we have begun.”
According to the minister, one of the project’s most impactful outcomes is human capacity development, with more than 200 professionals across regulatory agencies, policymaking institutions and industry trained in industrial energy efficiency (IEE) and resource efficient cleaner production (RECP) methodologies.
He added that the integration of RECP principles into university curricula represents a long-term structural shift, ensuring that future engineers, designers and industrial managers adopt sustainability as a baseline rather than an afterthought.
Babagana further disclosed that Nigeria now has, for the first time, a national database of industrial waste hotspots and energy-intensive enterprises, a tool expected to support evidence-based policymaking and guide investment decisions in the sector.
He noted that groundwork has also been laid for the establishment of a National Cleaner Production Centre, which will function as a hub for innovation, technical advisory, and policy support for industries transitioning to cleaner production systems.
Lawal said the Federal Government would build on the project’s gains by scaling adoption across all 36 states, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which make up a significant share of Nigeria’s industrial base.
“The era of ‘grow first, clean later’ is over. The most competitive industries today are those that use resources efficiently and turn waste into value. We will sustain the gains recorded,” he said.
Providing implementation insights, National Project Coordinator for IEE & RECP, Dr Jacob Oladipo, said the initiative delivered measurable improvements across participating industries, including cleaner production assessments, targeted technical training, and international certifications.
He said the programme also introduced recognition mechanisms to reward early adopters and top-performing companies, thereby encouraging broader industry participation.
“This initiative recognised industries demonstrating excellence and early adoption of IEE & RECP methodologies, celebrating outstanding performers and motivating wider participation in resource efficiency and environmental sustainability,” Oladipo said.
“As the National Project Coordinator, I am proud that these achievements reflect strong collaboration among stakeholders and align with UNIDO’s vision at the inception of this project.”
He disclosed that Nigerian Foundries Ltd. and Dalas Foods Industries secured ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 certifications respectively, reflecting improvements in energy management systems and environmental compliance standards.
Oladipo added that companies such as Nestlé Nigeria, Nigerian Foundries, and Avon Crowncaps emerged as top performers in an industry efficiency competition, having demonstrated early adoption of cleaner production practices and measurable gains in resource optimisation.
UNIDO Programme Manager, Karin Reiss-Haimbala, said the project revealed strong demand among Nigerian industries for energy efficiency and sustainable production services, noting that its success was underpinned by deep institutional collaboration.
“It is clear that industries value these services. We are very happy that we worked with MAN, the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Bank of Industry, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
“It shows how strongly embedded this project is in national structures. It is critical that we take this to scale and build on the momentum,” she said.
Also speaking, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the programme directly addressed one of the sector’s most persistent challenges—high energy costs.
He noted that energy accounts for between 30 and 40 per cent of total manufacturing costs, making efficiency improvements not just environmentally necessary but economically strategic.
“This programme has enabled manufacturers to optimise energy use, improve processes, and remain environmentally compliant. It is now becoming embedded in how we produce,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He added that the top-performing companies identified under the project would serve as benchmarks for others in the sector, accelerating the adoption of IEE and RECP practices nationwide.
The Federal Government’s position, stakeholders say, signals a shift in Nigeria’s industrial policy direction—one that aligns competitiveness with sustainability, and positions cleaner production not as a constraint, but as a driver of long-term economic growth.
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