Nigeria’s Plastic Pollution Crisis Blamed on Corporate Practices, Audit Reveals. Abuja, Nigeria — February 20, 2026 — A comprehensive audit conducted by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) across eight Nigerian cities has pinpointed multinational beverage companies and single-use plastic producers as the leading contributors to the nation’s escalating plastic pollution crisis.
The audit, which involved the collection and examination of 298,174 pieces of plastic waste, found sachets, plastic bottles, bags, and wrappers to be the most prevalent waste items.
Nigeria is estimated to produce around 2. 5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a negligible percentage being recycled.
Lagos, the country’s largest city, faces significant challenges due to plastic waste, including blocked drains and costly flooding.
Sachet packaging, widely used for water and beverages, emerged as the most common waste item, with an estimated 60 million sachets discarded daily across the nation. Major multinational companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were identified as leading contributors to the plastic pollution in the audited cities.
Nestlé, Rite Foods, CWAY Group, and various local water producers also ranked high on the list of polluters.
Officials commented on the matter. Despite Nigeria’s commitment to tackle plastic pollution through various policies, enforcement has been inconsistent and slow.
Some states have initiated bans on certain single — use plastics, with Lagos leading these efforts.
Recommendations include the enforcement of binding global and national plastic production — reduction targets, implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) standards, and the full financial responsibility of producers and importers for plastic waste management. Civil society and researchers are urged to continue advocating for strong regulations and to support waste pickers and provide evidence-based solutions. “
The plastic crisis in Nigeria is driven by a throwaway culture fueled by the fossil fuel industry.
Delay is no longer an option. Corporate profit must never come before public health and environmental safety, “added Okotie.
