Why Environment Ministry Banned Single-use Plastics
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By Ojugbele Omotunde
In an effort to promote a waste-reduction culture, the Federal Ministry of Environment issued a ban on single-use plastics.
The ban, which is to be implemented at both its headquarters and affiliated organizations, is to promote clean environment and reduce the effect of plastic use related climate change effect.
At a two-day Top Management Retreat in Kaduna, the ministry’s resolution was articulated in a communiqué signed by Director Malam Stanley Jonah, with an emphasis on policy embedding and prioritizing important measures for environmental management.
Single-use plastics are typically used for packaging and service products such as bottles, wrappers, straws and bags and are used once or for a brief period.
Globally, single-use plastic waste has severe environmental and health impacts, with reusable options more likely to end up in the seas.
With the help of 18 deliverables and 48 KPIs, the Nigerian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (NGO) is dedicated to realizing President Bola Tinubu’s vision.
The ministry highlights the importance of ministries and agencies working together, as well as cascading a vision to the commercial sector, civil society, sub-nationals, and all Nigerians.
The communique states that to maintain successful communication, conflict management techniques are necessary, and funding is critical to attaining these goals.
Additionally, the ministry recommends extending the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program to small-scale producers and the unorganized sector in order to incorporate them in circular waste management initiatives.
It also states that In order to accomplish presidential priorities, departments, agencies, programs, and special initiatives must work together.
It futher states that for sustainable waste management, a Circular Nigeria committee has been established, with the NESREA Director-General serving as its chair. Succession planning, mentoring, and institutional knowledge transfer will be given top priority by the committee.
Plans for procurement must be finished ahead of time and presented to government organizations. Strengthening the bonds between supervisors and subordinates, staff mobilization, performance monitoring, and capacity development are important tactics.
Additionally, a Strategic Roadmap for the ministry will be created.
Employees of the Ministry and its affiliates were asked to set an example for others by doing additional individual climate measures in their settings.
Nonetheless, the retreat’s high point was when the heads of departments and agencies signed a performance bond with the ministers and permanent secretary to ensure that the ministry’s top priorities were fulfilled.