The federal government of Nigeria has launched End-to-Life Vehicle regulation to generate $100 billion and create 40,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.
The Minister for State of Industry, John Enoch, in his address during the launch in Lagos on Wednesday, stated that “the regulation will generate 100 billion dollars, create 40,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians and also create opportunity for industrial value chain for Nigerians to leverage on so that the initial wasted metals that can now be converted to raw materials for industries to use as local raw materials, marking a pivotal movement in the automotive industry by setting strict standards for vehicle recycling and reuse.”
Enoch emphasized the importance of recycling in job creation and economic growth, adding that the regulation will protect Nigeria’s economy, generate employment, enhance road safety, health and the environment.
He advised the National Automotive Design and Development Council to include the critical stakeholders especially the National Union of Road Transport Workers to ensure seamless implementation.
“There should be room for stakeholder engagement and everybody within that corridor must be carried along to achieve success. The project is an application to Nigeria’s economic landscape in comparable with the circular nature of the new world economy. Stakeholders both public and private sectors must collaborate and build a cleaner, safer and prosperous economically viable country,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Osanipin acknowledged evolving country’s automotive landscape requires sustainable waste management.
Osanipin maintained that most vehicles on Nigerian roads are pre-owned imports nearing their end-to-life and it pose serious environmental hazards without proper regulation.
He stressed the initiative will address the disposal of batteries from electric vehicles as well as preventing environmental damages.
In the same vein, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal represented by Principal Environmental Officer, Ejiogu Nkechi x-rayed the environmental and health risks of improper vehicle disposal, saying that the regulation will create opportunities for green industries and ameliorate environmental hazards.
She noted that the recently launched ELV regulation aligns with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Environmental motor Vehicle and Miscellaneous Assembly Regulation 2013 which provides a structured framework for the safe disposal, recycling and reuse of materials from “End-to-Life Vehicles.”
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