Nigeria has emerged as the largest contributor to food waste in Africa, discarding an estimated 38 million tonnes of food each year, the European Union (EU) has reported.
The revelation was made during the International Zero Waste Day event in Abuja, where experts and stakeholders called for immediate action to tackle food loss and encourage sustainable consumption.
Zissimos Vergos, EU Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, warned that food waste is more than just lost meals, pointing to its serious environmental consequences. He noted that globally, nearly one billion tonnes of food—about one-fifth of all food available to consumers—was wasted in 2022. This contributes to climate change, accounting for up to 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and a significant share of methane production.
Vergos acknowledged ongoing Nigerian government initiatives aimed at addressing the problem, including the Circular Economy Roadmap and other policies focused on reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.
He recommended practical strategies, such as investing in rural infrastructure like storage and cold chain systems, promoting agro-processing to convert raw produce into value-added products, and integrating sustainability education into school curricula.
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, policy collaboration, and funding to help implement these measures and reduce the country’s food waste burden.
