By Adamu David
The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to strengthen waste management strategies to curb the rising threat of environmental pollution and its associated health risks across the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Julius Pondi, the lawmaker representing Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State, during plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.
Presenting the motion titled “Waste Pollution and the Management of Its Impacts on Health and Environment,” Pondi lamented the growing challenges Nigerians face in handling waste disposal, particularly in the oil and gas sector and manufacturing industries.
He noted that ineffective waste management had continued to endanger lives, particularly in communities where industrial activities take place.
“The House observes the recurring negative impacts that ineffective waste disposal practices have had on the health of citizens in communities and locations where oil and gas activities are conducted,” he said.
Pondi further highlighted key contributors to environmental pollution, including hazardous industrial discharges, persistent gas flaring, crude and refined oil spills—particularly in the Niger Delta region—and poor domestic waste disposal practices.
Despite the existence of environmental protection laws, the lawmaker pointed out loopholes in enforcement, warning that the continued neglect of waste management could lead to severe health challenges, agricultural decline, and environmental degradation, especially in coastal areas.
Following widespread support for the motion, the House urged the federal government, through the Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, to step up enforcement of environmental laws to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.
It also called on state and local governments to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure that oil companies, manufacturing industries, and small and medium-scale enterprises adopt safer and more sustainable waste disposal methods to prevent disease outbreaks.
The House mandated its Committee on Environment to conduct a nationwide survey to assess the extent of environmental pollution and evaluate the level of compliance with existing waste management regulations.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks for further legislative action.
