By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to reduce sachet water consumption following revelations that Nigeria consumes over 2.5 billion litres annually, a trend that continues to fuel plastic pollution and environmental degradation nationwide.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday, 27 January, 2026 in Abuja by the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor, at the inception meeting of the GEF Child Project 11193, titled “Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria.”
Barikor explained that the project seeks to curb the proliferation of plastic sachet water while ensuring sustained access to safe drinking water.
He noted that the initiative represents a critical milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address the country’s worsening plastic pollution challenge.
According to him, although sachet water has helped bridge gaps in potable water supply, its widespread use has increasingly become an environmental burden.
“As you are aware, Nigeria consumes over 2.5 billion litres of sachet water annually, produced by more than 32,000 manufacturers across the country,” Barikor said.
However, he added that the convenience comes at a cost. “These plastic sachets have resulted in blocked drainage systems, flooding, ecosystem degradation, and serious risks to public health and biodiversity,” he stated.
Consequently, Barikor stressed that the dual challenge of water access and plastic pollution makes the project not only timely but necessary.
He described the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Child Project 11193 as a strategic and transformative intervention aligned with Nigeria’s environmental priorities and NESREA’s mandate.
He further explained that the project adopts a holistic circular approach, focusing on prevention, innovation, policy reform and systemic change, rather than waste management alone.
In a goodwill message, Isabella Vanderbeck of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) described Nigeria as a critical partner in global efforts to combat plastic pollution.
“Life without plastic is truly fantastic. Let us hit the ground running and do away with plastic,” Vanderbeck said.
Similarly, Evelyn Swain of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s transition away from single-use plastic water sachets. Swain, a Senior Environmental Specialist and Plastic Reboot Coordinator at the GEF Secretariat, was represented by Anna Blanpain.
“GEF is proud to support Nigeria in reducing the consumption of single-use plastic water sachets while ensuring access to safe drinking water,” she said, adding that Nigeria’s experience could help shape global solutions to plastic pollution.
Meanwhile, the Chief Scientific Officer of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs Zuliat Mohammed, expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with NESREA to ensure the project’s success.
“This programme will help Nigeria eliminate these plastic products across the country,” Mohammed said.
The initiative is expected to strengthen coordinated action against plastic pollution through sustainable alternatives, policy reforms and institutional collaboration, while balancing environmental protection with public health needs.
