Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and member organizations of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) have expressed deep concern over the recent decision by the Nigerian federal government to suspend the Green Taxation on Single-Use Plastics.
The environmentalists who expressed their concern through a statement issued by their Communication Officer, Elvira Jordan recently, argued that the move will transform Nigeria into a dumping ground for plastic waste, exacerbating the already critical environmental situation.
The suspension of the Green Taxation, which includes an Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics such as containers and bottles, was announced by the Federal Government as part of its efforts to create a business-friendly environment.
However, environmental advocates warn that this decision undermines the government’s commitment to addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste and its impact on the ecosystem.
Chima Williams, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating, “This new development will only bring to fruition the ominous prediction that plastic products in the ocean will surpass the number of fish in the water by 2040.”
Williams emphasized that Nigeria should be enacting policies to combat the invasion of plastic in oceans and water bodies, rather than promoting measures that increase plastic production.
“At a time when the world is striving to raise public awareness on the urgency of ending plastic use, it is unfortunate that our president is increasing the significance of plastic products. Nigeria is already being ravaged by a plastic tsunami,” Williams added.
He urged the government to enact legislation that supports the phase-out of plastic and demonstrates its commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s waste sector reduction targets.
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Melody Enyinnaya, the ERA/FoEN Project Officer of Waste Management, highlighted the importance of green taxation in curbing environmental pollution caused by Single-Use Plastics.
Green taxation is an eco/environmental tax imposed on activities that harm the environment, and it aims to increase production costs for corporations, ultimately discouraging consumers from purchasing plastic products and reducing their environmental impact.
Enyinnaya cautioned that the suspension of green taxation on Single-Use Plastics will hinder efforts to reduce plastic pollution in Nigeria, especially considering the country’s lack of effective policies governing the production, consumption, and disposal of these materials.
She urged the government to reconsider the suspension and prioritize the environmental and health implications of such policies.
Additional member organizations of GAIA also voiced their concerns.
Dr. Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), argued that an outright ban coupled with a robust Extended Producer Responsibility program is the most effective solution to combat plastic waste in Nigeria.
Benson Dotun Fasanya, the Executive Director of the Centre for Earth Works (CFEW), warned that the suspension of green taxation on plastics opens the door to a plastic tsunami in Nigeria.
The environmental organizations collectively called on the government to reconsider its decision and take proactive steps toward establishing a zero-waste society.
They also urged the government to develop legislative instruments, such as a withdrawal policy, that would hold corporations accountable for the waste generated by their products.
