NIGERIA – The Lagos State Government is advocating for a decrease in the utilization of single-use plastic to tackle the escalating environmental issues linked to its disposal.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known during the commemoration of the Year 2023 Walk for Nature exercise held at the Youth Centre in Onikan, Lagos Island.
The Commissioner, who spoke through the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, noted that the Walk, organized in conjunction with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), was held simultaneously in Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Ikeja Local Government Areas to promote environmental awareness and conservation efforts in the state.
Speaking on the theme “Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” he emphasized that it serves as a wake-up call for everyone regarding the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on human health, future generations, and the environment we inhabit.
Wahab said that plastics pose a threat to humanity by altering natural ecosystems, resulting in the loss of habitat, biodiversity, and climate. He added that managing waste disposal through recycling, reuse, and reduction is crucial.
Earlier, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services, noted that this year’s theme emphasizes the importance of finding long-term solutions to one of the main causes of environmental degradation in the state.
He advised everyone to work together collectively to achieve measurable progress in the state, with the goal of creating an environmentally sustainable, healthier, and more prosperous state.
In related news, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has stated that the country’s annual 2.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste has the potential to create wealth and job opportunities if it is managed effectively and sustainably.
Chair of the Technical Sub-Committee of the 29th Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES29), Mrs. Ozofu Ogiemudia, stated this in an address at the pre 29th Nigerian Economic Summit (Nes29) webinar with the theme ‘Waste-to-Wealth: The Plastics Value Chain’.
Ogiemudia also pointed out the benefits of plastics, “which can generate various safe and efficient by-products for consumers, including food wrapping, disposable bottles, microbeads in body washes, and a variety of other packaging or products. Plastics are versatile, cheap, and convenient.”
According to her, “Nigeria is one of the largest consumers of plastics in Africa. She stated that the country imported an estimated 20 million tonnes of primary plastics and plastic products between 1996 and 2017.
“It is projected that this number will reach 40 million tonnes by 2030. Additionally, Nigeria generates approximately 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, some of which ends up in the sea.”
The gaps in plastic waste control, such as the lack of identifiable information and the cost involved in setting up collection points, are hindering Nigeria from fully harnessing the potential of the plastics value chain.
