Nigerians have expressed worries on the growing plastic pollution in the country even as the United Nations, through its Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), says plastic consumption in Nigeria has increased to 1.25 million tonnes, a 116.26 percent increase from previous record within a period of 15 years.
UNIDO Country Representative and Regional Director for West Africa, Jean Bakole, at the inauguration of the steering committee for the project tagged, ‘Promoting Sustainable Plastics Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices,’ held recently in Abuja said as the most populated nation with the largest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on the African continent, Nigeria’s plastic waste problem was on the increase.
He said, “This is based on its increased consumption from 578,000 tonnes of plastics in 2007 to about 1,250,000 tonnes. Therefore, the per capita plastic consumption has grown by five per cent annually from 4kg to 6.5kg. It is estimated that each citizen would consume about 7.5kg of plastics per year.”
He noted that over the years, the mismanagement of plastic waste was not only contaminating the land ecosystem, but was also being released into the marine environment, thereby polluting it and threatening biodiversity and negatively impacting the blue economy.
The UN official said, “Mismanaged plastics and ineffective waste management is also a source of GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions.
“According to the World Bank, plastic waste accounts for 12 per cent of the total amount of municipal solid wastes generated globally. However, only 14 per cent are collected for recycling while only nine per cent are recycled.”
To address the concern in Nigeria, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, who inaugurated the committee said, “It is in response to these challenges that the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with relevant stakeholders took steps to address the plastic issue holistically by adopting the circular economy model.
“In this wise, we have developed the national policies on solid waste and plastic waste management to promote environmental protection, resource and energy efficiency, circular economy practices and enhance the conservation of natural resources through sustainable production and consumption.”
However, speaking with NatureNews, an environmentalist and marine enthusiast, Kolade Akinboro, said if the affected agencies did not act fast, Nigerians might experience numerous health hazards while marine life would also be gravely affected.
His words: “It is sad the way we view issues in this country, particularly as it concerns our health and environment. While in saner climes, they are moving away from the use of plastic and embracing more environmentally friendly package system and disposal, the opposite is the case here.
“There are many environmentally friendly alternatives such as stainless steel, glass, bamboo, natural fibre cloth and ceramics, depending on what you’re trying to replace the plastic item with. But what do we have here, more and more package firms are churning out different products in plastic. The way and manner we dispose the waste is even more awful.
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“The government and its agencies should do something fast before we start reaping the effects in ways we cannot handle.”
Another environmentalist, Gbadebo Ojo, said Nigerians had been suffering from plastic use and waste related ailments in an alarming rate.
He, however, blamed poverty and the nonchalant posture of affected government agencies for the spiralling upsurge in the amount of plastic consumption and waste disposal in the country.
“What many don’t know is that people are already dying from ailment related to the use of plastic. There are toxic chemicals in plastic. These include endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes, prostate or breast cancer, among others. Other health conditions linked to additives include reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment and neurodevelopment disorders,” he said.
Both environmentalists lamented that ocean life in the country had been worse hit than many people cared to know arguing that if concrete steps were not taken fast the government and people could have a devastating health situation in their hands.
Experts at a Dawn Project Giving Prize event held recently in Lagos encouraged Nigerians on waste recycling for a safer and healthier environment as part of efforts to promote a sustainable world.
The event was themed, “Recycle for Sustainability: Making a Difference in Our Climate and Our Lives”.
Speaking at the event, a director at Bridge Clinic, Dr Pamela Ajayi, bemoaned the rise in cases of cancer in the country even among young people.
She blamed emissions from vehicles and power-generating sets, and plastic waste as major causes of environmental pollution.
She said: “The time has come to deal with these challenges decisively. Plastics do not decay or go anywhere beyond the earth.
“The plastics are broken down into pieces and swallowed by the fishes in the sea. People take this back from the fish they consume.”
For the Environmental activist and founder, LUFASI Park, Desmond Majekodunmi, addressing the climate challenge should be everybody’s business.
This is as he tasked the youth to challenge the elders to address the climate situation that is slowly killing people.
