PROTEGO Takes Action in Nigeria: Mapping Hotspots, Building Partnerships, and Advancing Stakeholder Engagement
The PROTEGO team in Nigeria has been actively working to address marine litter through hotspot mapping, community engagement, and stakeholder collaboration. As part of this effort, the team conducted site visits to identified areas and engaged with key stakeholders, including representatives from traditional leadership, local government authorities, BASF, and Circularity Africa Limited. These interactions provided valuable insights into localized waste management challenges and opportunities for intervention, ensuring that PROTEGO’s efforts are tailored to the specific needs of the communities it serves.
To further advance collaboration, PROTEGO has hosted multiple stakeholder workshops, bringing together key public, private, and civil society representatives. On October 24, the Stakeholder Inception Workshop set the stage for meaningful dialogue, fostering discussions on collaborative solutions and strategic partnerships aimed at tackling marine litter in Nigeria. This engagement laid a strong foundation for project implementation, ensuring alignment with national policies and industry sustainability efforts.
Building on this momentum, a Stakeholder Workshop was held on December 6 in Nsidung, Calabar, bringing together participants from the Ministry of Environment, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Cross River State Civil Society Network, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and local community organizations such as the Nsidung Traders Union and Fish Dealers. The workshop served as an educational platform, allowing stakeholders to better understand the project’s objectives while identifying key challenges and potential solutions for effective implementation.
Further reinforcing local engagement, on December 9, a focus group discussion was held at the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Council headquarters in Ajegunle, Lagos. This session provided an opportunity for local government representatives and key stakeholders to exchange insights and shape actionable steps for the project’s execution. The engagement was made possible through the support of Circularity Africa Limited, whose contributions have been instrumental in advancing PROTEGO’s objectives.
Additionally, the PROTEGO team in Nigeria has been strengthening relationships with key institutional partners, including the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State. These partnerships are essential for integrating circular economy principles, scaling waste management efforts, and ensuring alignment with regulatory frameworks, thereby maximizing the project’s impact.
Through a combination of strategic stakeholder engagement, on-the-ground community interactions, and data-driven hotspot mapping, PROTEGO continues to lay the groundwork for sustainable solutions to combat marine litter in Nigeria and Ghana. These efforts mark significant progress in reducing plastic waste pollution and safeguarding marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Guinea.
