Environmental and Social Management Policy
Effective Date: March 2025
Environmental and Social Management Policy
1. Introduction
Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd., is committed to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility in all aspects of our operations. As a company specializing in enterprise software, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy, we recognize the importance of integrating environmental and social (E&S) considerations into our business practices to minimize risks and maximize positive impacts. This Environmental and Social Management Policy (ESMP) establishes our commitment to upholding the highest standards in environmental protection, occupational health and safety, community engagement, and ethical business conduct.
2. Objectives
Our E&S policy is designed to:
Ensure sustainable and responsible deployment of our mini-grid solutions and technology infrastructure.
Promote environmental conservation by reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring responsible waste management.
Enhance community engagement and local economic empowerment through job creation, training, and partnerships.
Maintain safe working conditions and protect the health and well-being of employees and stakeholders.
Comply with national and international environmental and social regulations.
3. Environmental Commitment
We strive to minimize the environmental impact of our operations by:
Deploying renewable energy solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote clean energy access.
Implementing energy-efficient technologies, including smart metering and AI-driven load management, to optimize energy use.
Managing e-waste, used batteries, and other hazardous materials through responsible collection, storage, and recycling partnerships.
Ensuring sustainable land use practices and avoiding projects that may lead to environmental degradation.
Conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before the implementation of large-scale projects.
Implementing responsible water management strategies to prevent overuse or contamination in project sites.
4. Social Responsibility
Our social responsibility efforts focus on:
Community Engagement & Stakeholder Involvement: We actively engage local communities through consultations, awareness programs, and participatory decision-making to ensure their needs are addressed in our projects.
Job Creation & Skills Development: We prioritize hiring local workers and contractors, offering training programs to build technical expertise in mini-grid operations and digital technology.
Gender Inclusion & Diversity: We promote gender equity in our workforce and ensure our projects support equal access to opportunities for women and marginalized groups.
Customer Protection & Affordability: We ensure fair pricing, transparent billing, and flexible payment models for our electricity and technology services.
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH): We have a strict zero-tolerance policy against SEA/SH in all our operations, ensuring safe reporting mechanisms, awareness training, and consequences for violations.
5. Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)
The safety and well-being of our employees, contractors, and stakeholders are a top priority. We commit to:
Providing a safe and healthy workplace, ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations.
Training employees on hazard prevention, emergency response, and safe work practices.
Ensuring the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and adherence to best practices in electrical safety, software development security, and data protection.
Conducting regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate workplace hazards.
Managing labor-related risks by enforcing ethical labor policies and ensuring fair treatment of all workers.
6. Land Acquisition & Community Relations
We adhere to a voluntary and transparent land acquisition process, ensuring fair compensation and community consent.
We avoid involuntary resettlements and ensure that affected parties are adequately consulted and compensated.
We support community development projects to foster goodwill and long-term partnerships.
We actively manage community interactions to maintain positive relations and prevent conflicts arising from project implementation.
7. Battery Recycling & E-Waste Management
As a company, we have a structured approach to managing used batteries, electronic waste (e-waste), and obsolete equipment to minimize environmental impact and ensure safe disposal. Our approach entails:
Storage & Collection: We establish dedicated collection points for used batteries and electronic waste at our operational sites.
Recycling Partnerships: We collaborate with licensed recycling firms and waste management organizations to ensure proper disposal and material recovery.
Safe Handling Procedures: Employees handling battery storage and disposal are trained in hazardous waste management to prevent environmental contamination.
Reuse & Repurposing: Where possible, we recondition or repurpose functional components to extend their lifespan and reduce waste.
Challenges in Battery & E-Waste Management:
Limited Local Recycling Facilities: The availability of certified recycling plants for lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries in Nigeria is still limited, and that results in increasing logistical costs for us.
Community Awareness & Engagement: There are still wide awareness gaps. Proper disposal of batteries and e-waste requires continuous community education to prevent unsafe disposal methods.
Regulatory Compliance Complexity: Adhering to evolving environmental regulations for hazardous waste management requires ongoing monitoring and compliance efforts. Without which problems easily arise.
8. Grievance Mechanism
We maintain a effective grievance resolution system to address concerns from employees, customers, and communities by:
Establishing accessible and transparent complaint channels.
Ensuring timely investigation and resolution of grievances.
Protecting whistleblowers and promoting accountability in all business dealings
9. Compliance & Continuous Improvement
We comply with Nigerian environmental laws, international standards (IFC Performance Standards, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001), and industry best practices.
We conduct regular audits and impact assessments to evaluate and improve our E&S performance.
We encourage innovation in green technology, sustainable business models, and ethical AI applications to enhance social and environmental outcomes.
Conclusion
At Nugi Technologies Nig. Ltd., we believe that technology and sustainability must go hand in hand. Our Environmental and Social Management Policy reflects our dedication to responsible business practices, ensuring that our projects benefit not only our stakeholders but also the environment and society at large. Through this commitment, we continue to drive economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria and beyond.
This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with evolving industry standards and stakeholder expectations.
