In a major environmental and economic boost for Nigeria, the UK has announced plans to establish a $5 million lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling plant in Ogun State. Adrian Clews, CEO of Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd, shared the news during a press briefing held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, in Abeokuta.

Supported by the UK’s Manufacturing Africa program, this initiative aims to tackle Nigeria’s rapidly growing electronic waste problem while creating over 100 jobs in the process. Clews highlighted that Nigeria ranks as the second-highest producer of e-waste in Africa, generating over 200,000 metric tonnes annually, most of which is left in toxic dumps, posing significant health and environmental risks.

The recycling plant, expected to be completed within 12 months, will help safely manage this waste, which the informal sector is ill-equipped to handle. Clews emphasized, “Electronic waste poses a serious threat to people’s health and the environment, and this plant will raise the standards in battery recycling.”

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Mr. Ola Oresanya, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Environment, lauded the project, reinforcing Ogun’s leadership in waste management across Nigeria. He highlighted the state’s daily recycling of over 1,400 metric tonnes of plastic bottles, 1,300 tonnes of metals, and 1,400 tonnes of paper. Oresanya further noted that Ogun is already home to seven companies engaged in battery recycling and reassured Hinckley E-Waste of the government’s full support.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, expressed the UK’s commitment to improving quality of life in Nigeria, stating, “This recycling plant is one way we are working to support socio-economic development in Nigeria.” He also emphasized the UK’s ongoing interest in investment across energy, technology, education, and agriculture sectors.