FG unveils national environmental battery control regulations

The Federal Government has unveiled the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 to prevent and minimise pollution and waste emanating from batteries in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regulations seek to ensure environmentally sound management of used batteries in the country.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated this at the unveiling of the document on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the regulations also sought to address the challenges of waste battery management in Nigeria.

Lawal said it was in line with the provisions and recommendations of the Basel and Bamako Conventions, and other related guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of hazardous waste.

The minister was represented by Mr Usman Bokani, Director, Pollution and Public Health, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

He said that batteries, particularly those used in renewable energy, telecommunication and automotive sectors, were critical to Nigeria’s economic development.

Lawal said that batteries contained hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium amongst others.

He said batteries when improperly disposed of, could lead to severe health conditions including cancer, kidney damage and neurological disorders.