Nigeria's Alarming Food Waste Crisis: 38 Million Tonnes Lost Annually
The European Union (EU) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria's escalating food waste crisis, disclosing that the country discards an estimated 38 million tonnes of food each year. This staggering figure represents the highest level of food waste on the African continent, highlighting a severe issue that demands immediate attention.
Urgent Call for Action at International Zero Waste Day
During the commemoration of this year's International Zero Waste Day in Abuja, themed "Food Waste Reduction – Minimisation and Valorisation," Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, described the situation as alarming. He emphasized the critical need for coordinated efforts among government bodies, private sector stakeholders, and citizens to tackle waste across the entire food value chain.
Vergos stressed that the scale of food waste in Nigeria not only undermines national food security but also poses significant environmental and economic challenges. He pointed out that addressing this issue is essential for promoting sustainable consumption and production, aligning with global development goals.
Global and Environmental Impacts of Food Waste
The Deputy Ambassador highlighted that globally, in 2022 alone, nearly one billion tonnes of food—almost one-fifth of all food available to consumers—was wasted. "This is not just a loss of food, it is a squandering of precious resources, a missed opportunity to combat hunger, and a direct threat to our planet's health," he added.
He further noted that food loss and waste are major drivers of environmental degradation, contributing up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is nearly five times the emissions of the entire aviation sector and accounts for as much as 40 percent of global methane emissions.
Government Initiatives and Structural Shifts
Vergos acknowledged some of Nigeria's efforts, including the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap, the establishment of the Interministerial Circular Economy Committee, and the push to develop a National Plastic Waste Management Regulation. "These are not small gestures. These are structural shifts. They signal that Nigeria is not waiting for someone else to solve its problem; it is building the system to solve it from within," he stated.
Key Lessons from the EU for Reducing Food Waste
Drawing from the EU's experience, Vergos shared three crucial lessons to help Nigeria reduce food waste and enhance food security:
- Invest in rural infrastructure, such as roads, storage facilities, and cold chains, to address the "last mile" beyond the farm.
- Promote the processing of fresh produce into value-added products like tomato paste and cassava flour by linking smallholder farmers to processors and markets.
- Embed zero waste, recycling, and resource-saving principles into the school curriculum from the primary level to foster a sustainable culture in the next generation.
Partnerships and Commitment to Sustainable Practices
The EU, in partnership with the Nigerian Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has underscored the need for immediate measures to curb food waste and advance sustainable consumption and production practices. They emphasized that when food is wasted, the water, energy, and labour used in its production are also wasted, accelerating climate change and undermining global efforts toward a zero-waste circular future.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices. "Food waste remains a significant challenge that affects not only our environment but also our economy and society. Every discarded meal represents wasted resources such as water, energy, labour, and capital, while Nigerians continue to face food insecurity," he said.
Lawal added that the Federal Ministry of Environment has developed projects on food waste elimination in major markets across Nigeria, targeting post-harvest losses. "Reducing food waste will not only help to lower pollution and greenhouse gases but also conserve valuable resources and promote more efficient and responsible consumption patterns," he concluded.
UNIDO's Support for Sustainable Agro-Industrial Systems
Ambassador Philbert Johnson, Director and Representative of UNIDO's Sub-Regional Office in Nigeria, emphasized that food should not go to waste, especially given the country's issues with food insecurity and malnutrition. "Food is far more than a commodity: it is a foundation of wealth, a driver of health, and a pillar of security. When food systems fail, when food is lost or wasted, the consequences ripple across our economies, our environment, and our communities," he stated.
Johnson reaffirmed UNIDO's commitment to supporting the Nigerian government in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agro-industrial systems to address this critical issue.
