Nigeria’s Automobile Industry Faces Environmental Challenge: 10 Million Tyres Annual Disposal Poses Threat

The burgeoning automobile industry in Nigeria has been a driving force behind economic growth, with approximately 10 million tyres produced each year to meet the demands of vehicles plying the nation’s roads.

However, amidst this prosperity lies an alarming environmental challenge that demands immediate attention as the lack of environmentally friendly management and traceability data for the disposal of used tyres has raised significant concerns about their impact on the environment and public health.

At a recent press briefing in Abuja, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) through its Director General, Prof Aliyu Jauro, said despite the importance of tyres, manufacturers must manage them properly to protect the environment.

He said the improper disposal of used tyres poses grave threats both to the environment and the health of the Nigerian populace.

NESREA Chairman, Billy Nwoye, also pointed out the devastating consequences of discarding tyres haphazardly and explained that when tyres are stockpiled, they become breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes due to the accumulation of water.

Moreover, the toxic emissions released during open burning of tyres contribute to severe environmental degradation.

On a global scale, one billion end-of-life tyres are generated worldwide, and an estimated four billion are currently occupying landfills and stockpiles. Nigeria, alone, contributes to this global crisis by generating about 10 million used tyres annually, which are discarded without environmentally friendly management traceability data.

To address this growing concern, the Nigerian government, in partnership with stakeholders, has introduced the “Used Tyre Producers Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria” (UTPRON).