Oando Clean Energy Hosts Environment Minister to Strengthen Plastic Waste Management Partnership
By Naija Enquirer Staff
Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), a subsidiary of Oando PLC, hosted Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at its Lagos headquarters for a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration to combat plastic pollution and advance the country’s circular economy agenda.
The meeting focused on practical and scalable solutions to Nigeria’s growing plastic waste challenge, including the introduction of a revolutionary biodegradable additive into single-use plastic manufacturing.
Biodegradable Technology at the Centre of Discussions
Representatives from Oando Clean Energy, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and partner companies Polymateria and Hercules explored actionable pathways to reduce plastic waste through innovation, regulatory alignment, and cross-sector collaboration.
The proposed biodegradable technology, developed at Imperial College, London by Polymateria, enables plastics to degrade safely within a shorter period under natural environmental conditions.
Minister Lawal commended Oando Clean Energy for its leadership in promoting sustainable waste management alternatives and acknowledged the growing role of private-sector participation in Nigeria’s environmental reforms.
“It is exciting to know that we are now able to degrade plastics when we have long thought they were non-degradable. With this technology, we can safely degrade these materials while also promoting recycling,” the Minister said.
He added that the Federal Government is developing a collaborative framework with state governments and would explore integrating the biodegradable solution into national environmental policies.
Call for Government-Supported Certification Framework
Ademola Ogunbanjo, President and CEO of OCEL, praised the Ministry’s willingness to collaborate with industry stakeholders to drive lasting impact in waste management.
He proposed the establishment of a government-supported certification framework that would recognise and potentially exempt manufacturers adopting biodegradable technologies from existing single-use plastic bans.
According to Ogunbanjo, the Polymateria additive can be seamlessly integrated into current manufacturing processes, requiring only about two percent inclusion in production master batches. He emphasised that adoption would not result in job losses but instead promote sustainable industrial practices.
“We believe the Ministry can encourage widespread adoption of environmentally friendly solutions by allowing compliant manufacturers to continue production while contributing to a cleaner yet productive Nigeria,” he stated.
Technology Suited for Nigeria’s Climate
Richard Horne, Chief Executive Officer of Polymateria, noted that Nigeria’s climate—characterised by high heat, humidity, moisture, and sunlight—creates ideal conditions for the biodegradable process to occur efficiently.
He explained that the material breaks down into a form that becomes a food source for bacteria, helping to prevent long-term accumulation in landfills and waterways. Horne also highlighted that the solution behaves like conventional plastics, integrates easily into existing supply chains, and is highly scalable.
Health and Environmental Implications
Engr. Dr. (Mrs.) Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of the Department of Pollution Control & Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry of Environment, welcomed the innovation and expressed optimism about its environmental and public health benefits.
She referenced growing concerns about microplastics entering the human bloodstream and underscored the urgency of deploying technologies capable of mitigating such risks.
Pathway to a Cleaner Nigeria
Oando Clean Energy reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver practical and scalable solutions to Nigeria’s plastic waste crisis.
The engagement concluded with agreement on next steps, including joint technical workshops, policy development initiatives, and expanded cross-industry cooperation aimed at driving Nigeria toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.
