By Abdullahi Lukman
Plastic pollution is increasingly threatening Nigeria’s natural habitats and biodiversity, experts from the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) warned during a World Environment Day public lecture.
The event, themed ‘Ending Plastic Pollution Using the Waste Museum Model: Action Plans and Recommended Solutions’, highlighted how plastic waste is damaging ecosystems vital to wildlife and the country’s tourism sector.
Agharese Onaghise, Executive Director of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, stressed that plastic debris contaminates water bodies, disrupts aquatic life, and damages fishing equipment, putting marine habitats and food security at risk.
“Plastic pollution harms wildlife habitats and strains local resources through costly cleanup efforts,” Onaghise said, urging the government to enact strong policies that support sustainable waste management and ecosystem protection.
Atinuke Owolabi, Chairman of APWEN Lagos Chapter, described plastic pollution as an escalating environmental crisis threatening marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
She promoted the Waste Museum Model, a grassroots initiative that repurposes plastic waste into educational tools to inspire community action toward habitat conservation.
APWEN called for collaboration between government, industry, and citizens to safeguard Nigeria’s ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable practices that protect natural habitats for future generations.
