By Salifu Faridat
Stakeholders in the environment sector have come together to endorse the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulation, aimed at combating plastic pollution in Nigeria.
The meeting, held recently in Abuja, gathered key players to conduct the final review of the document, recognizing the global challenge posed by plastic pollution.
Professor Babajide Alao, the Chairman of the occasion, emphasized the urgent need to address the growing issue of plastic pollution worldwide.
He noted that streets, dumpsites, gutters, streams, seas, and oceans are inundated with these harmful products due to the lack of proper mechanisms for their management.
Prof. Aliyu Jauro, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), highlighted that the draft regulation has undergone validation across all six geopolitical zones.
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He emphasized that controlling plastic waste is not only essential for environmental preservation but also contributes significantly to the GDP and job creation.
The policy on Plastic Waste Management aims to reduce plastic pollution by 50 percent by 2025.
Dr. Amadu Jubrin of the Federal Ministry of Environment assured stakeholders that this policy wouldn’t harm businesses and emphasized the establishment of community-based waste collection facilities.
Dr. Leslie Adogame discussed the development of legislative instruments, standards, and systems to support sustainable plastic waste management.
The goal is to limit littering, reduce plastic waste generation, and mitigate the environmental impacts of plastic production.
Representatives from the European Union, UNIDO, and local organizations stressed the importance of awareness campaigns, regulations, and recycling efforts to combat plastic pollution in Nigeria.
Ahmed Tiamiyu of Community Action Against Plastic Waste highlighted that Nigeria’s plastic pollution problem is exacerbated by its status as a net importer of plastic materials. Besides environmental concerns, plastic pollution poses threats to public health.
