World Environment Day: Nigeria still grappling with plastic waste pollution despite government efforts

By Faridat Salifu, Abdullahi Lukman, Abbas Nazil and Nazil and Obiabin Onukwugha

As the world marks World Environment Day on June 5, the 2025 theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” casts a sharp spotlight on one of the gravest threats facing the planet’s biodiversity: the impact of plastic waste on marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Plastics have become the deadliest intruders in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Every year, up to 14 million tonnes of plastic end up in aquatic environments, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). From microscopic plankton to majestic whales, no aquatic species is safe.

The UNEP has warned that if current trends continue, by 2050, plastic could outweigh all the fish in the oceans.

Over 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, with microplastics now detected in water, soil, and even human bodies.

The threat is already visible in Nigeria’s aquatic ecosystems. It is estimated that Nigeria generated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with Lagos producing 870,000 tonnes.

This is despite government and private organizations efforts I combating the menace.

The Lagos Lagoon, River Benue, River Niger and our creeks and streams are increasingly polluted with single-use plastics.

In places like Makoko, floating waste chokes the fragile wetland ecosystem, making fishing more difficult and killing aquatic biodiversity.

In the Niger Delta, environmental groups have documented the presence of plastic in mangrove swamps a critical breeding ground for fish. This has implications not just for biodiversity but also for livelihoods. It is reported that over 20 million Nigerians depend on fish for their primary source of protein and on aquatic ecosystems for their income.

Lagos State is actively combating plastic pollution and has taken the lead in banning single-use plastics. The state is also encouraging the use of cloth bags and biodegradable packaging. This is followed by Ekiti State where the government has also banned single-use plastics.

To tackle this growing problem, the Nigerian government introduced the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (NPPWM) in 2021. This policy aims at reducing plastic waste and pollution, while promoting sustainable practices in the use and recycling of plastics.

Besides government efforts, private individuals have continued to turn seeming bad situation to wealth.

Across Nigeria’s major cities, towns and even villages, scavengers, visit refuse dumps, gutters; and even go from house to house, picking up plastics and other items.

They take the waste to middlemen who own collection spots where the waste is placed on scales and paid for based on the kilos it weighed. The middlemen then sell the selected waste to companies which recycle them.

Also, youth-led organizations like U-Recycle Initiative Africa are driving awareness through education and community engagement.

Founded by young environmental advocates, U-Recycle is empowering thousands of students across Nigeria with knowledge and tools to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices.

Multinational corporations are also responding to the pressure. Unilever Nigeria recently launched a plastic collection and recycling program in collaboration with local waste managers.

The initiative includes drop-off points in key urban areas and aims to collect over 1,000 tons of plastic annually while promoting alternatives to virgin plastic in packaging.

On its part, the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) has intensified its campaign against plastic pollution as part of activities marking the 2025 World Environment Day.

Speaking exclusively to NatureNews Africa on behalf of the WAPAN President, Comrade Salisu Ali Yarima, the Director of Communication and Strategic Planning, Aliu Awwal Aliu, affirmed that WAPAN has been working tirelessly across Nigeria to combat the devastating effects of plastic waste.

“WAPAN has been working tiredlessly in fighting against plastic pollution across the 36 states of Nigeria including the FCT,” Aliu stated.

He explained that the association’s consistent efforts are aimed at ensuring a cleaner and safer environment, in alignment with this year’s World Environment Day theme.

“In commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day WAPAN in collaboration with UNICEF Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina rallies and clean-up awareness Kano was hold today,” Aliu stated.

The clean-up exercise was complemented by tree planting activities at key locations in Kano, including Gadan Lado, Tarauni Market, and Hotoro.

The symbolic planting of trees was not only a gesture of environmental restoration but also a call for climate action.

“Tree planting was carried out at Gadan Lado, Tarauni Market, and Hotoro in Kano,” he added.

WAPAN’s strategy to combat plastic pollution goes beyond physical clean-up and extends to education and empowerment.