On Tuesday 6th of December 2022, the minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, inaugurated a committee to promote a sustainable plastics value chain through circular economy practices.
The aim of the inauguration which took place in Abuja was for its
members to provide technical assistance and guidance to the project.
The inauguration got kickstarted at a time when the global community was focused on negotiating the establishment of a legally binding instrument for environmentally sound management of plastic throughout its entire lifecycle the Minister noted.
He said: “Misuse of plastic and poor management of its wastes pose danger to human health and the environment
“Such poor management leaks toxic chemical constituents such as endocrine disrupting chemicals which have been linked to infertility, diabetes, prostate/breast cancer, into foods, drinks, and the environment.
“Also, tons of improperly disposed of plastic wastes litter our streets; clog up drainages in rural and urban areas leading to flooding incidents as experienced in certain parts of the country recently.
“These have contaminated the soil, thereby affecting farmlands and livestock, littering the oceans and threatening biodiversity, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions when burnt indiscriminately.”
It was in response to the above-stated challenges that the ministry, in collaboration with the appropriate stakeholders, took action to handle the plastic issue holistically by adopting a circular economy model.
The minister observed the Japanese government funded a study on available sustainable alternative materials for plastic, innovative packaging, and recycling technologies.
He further stated that the study conducted in 2021 and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the ministry, revealed a low level of recycling activities in the country.
“It also revealed that only 45 percent of waste is collected, 80 percent of plastic waste goes to the dumpsite while only 10 percent is recycled.
“It is against this backdrop that this project was developed to address these gaps,’’ he said
The Country Representative and Regional Director for West Africa, UNIDO, Mr. Jean Bakole, described plastic waste as a major global environmental problem in the country.
Bakole, through his representative Dr. Osuji Otu, National Programme Officer, UNIDO said that the production had drastically increased by more than twenty folds between 1964 and 2015, with a yearly output of 322 million metric tonnes.
He said it is anticipated that the figure will double by the year 2035 and quadruple by the year 2050 if no global effort is made.
Nigeria has continued to display a leadership role in Africa by developing various initiatives and partnerships at combating plastics and solid waste pollution despite the increase in plastic waste generation Bakole said.
Furthermore, Bakole reaffirmed UNIDO’s dedication to working with the government through the ministry and other stakeholders, toward achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
The Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyosi, declared that the committee was to oversee the plastic circular economy project by monitoring the project’s implementation progress.
Kazuyoshi said that the committee would also validate its overall direction and the work plan, and assist in mobilizing resources required for project implementation where necessary.
He said that the plastic circular economy would be of use in the field of marine plastics.
