By Dauda Abbas
A professor of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye has advocated the use of technological innovations to manage plastic waste crises in the country.
Ezemonye, who is the university’s Vice Chancellor, made the call during the university’s College of Natural and Applied Science yearly lecture, which coincided with the World Environment Day (WED) held in Okada, Edo State, said Africa generated plastic waste of approximately 8.5 million tonnes out of 380 million tonnes of plastic waste globally.
However, said that the use of technological innovations such as plastic buyback programmes, circular economy, plastic waste creativity and energy recovery strategies would mitigate the crisis.
Speaking on ‘Solving Plastic Waste Problems through Strategies and Innovation’, he said, plastics pose environmental pollution problems if not managed and called for collective action to stem the menace of plastic pollution in the wake of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation.
He disclosed that Africa generated plastic waste of approximately 8.5 million tonnes out of the 380 million tons of plastic waste generated globally, making it a major contributor to the global plastic waste crises.
The vice chancellor noted that about eight million tonnes of plastic waste find their way into the ocean, which he said was equivalent to dumping garbage trucks full of plastic into the ocean.
Africa’s plastic waste generation has reached critical levels and needs urgent attention using technology and innovations.
“Nigeria generates approximately three million tons of plastic waste yearly, making it the highest plastic waste generator in Africa, posing a severe threat to the environment and the entire ecosystem.
“The rapid population growth, urbanisation and the increasing consumption patterns have contributed to the surge in plastic waste generation in Nigeria.
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“Plastic waste also contaminates the soil, disrupts agricultural productivity and poses risk to our food value chains,” the outcome of the lecture would stimulate further interrogation and provide the impetus for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal No.15, which is geared towards making life more comfortable on land.
Also speaking, a professor of Environmental Microbiology and Director of Centre for Environment, Lancaster University, Prof. Kirk Semple, said one of the major causes of deaths across the globe was pollution.
Moreso, pollution was a global phenomenon with higher rates in third world countries and noted that pollution contaminates the soil, which invariably has a negative impact on agricultural products. He recommended continuous sensitisation of the public and adoption of environmental best practices to mitigate pollution.
Earlier, the Dean, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Prof. Longi Anyanwu, described the lecture as being apt and urged the students, as well as stakeholders to make best use of the lecture outcome.
Meanwhile, experts have called on the Federal Government to urgently put in place legislations that would facilitate the implementation of the global plastic treaty agreed by UN Member States two years ago.
The experts, who spoke at 2023 WED in Abuja, also said the adoption of a comprehensive zero plan would address all forms of waste at source of generation and across all value chains.
They reaffirmed that addressing the plastics production reduction at source remains a fundamental part of the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission, build resilience and solution to climate change.
The Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, Sesan Odukoya, stated that the proliferation of plastic waste has reached alarming levels and its detrimental effects on ecosystems are increasingly evident.
According to him, there is tremendous opportunity amid the crisis, such as the economy of plastic recycling and reuse, saying, this is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way of managing plastic waste. “It presents an opportunity to tackle plastic pollution, create green jobs, promote sustainable growth and protect the environment for future generations, which holds immense promise for Nigeria.”
In addition UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, said acting together to end plastic pollution is a major opportunity, particularly for developing countries.
