The Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have urged Nigerians, especially residents in the state, to embrace sustainable plastic waste management.
According to them, embracing sustainable plastic waste management practices would have a far-reaching effect on unclogging drains and maintaining the cleanliness of the environment.
Speaking during the 27th edition of the Annual Walk for Nature, with the theme “Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” held simultaneously in Ikeja, Kosofe, and Lagos Island East Local Governments, the Commissioner for the Environment in Lagos, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, explained that tackling plastic pollution and waste management from the generation point was key and involved the 8Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Rethink, Repair, Re-gift, Recover, Recycle, and Refuse) of sustainable waste management.
Bemoaning the indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste in the metropolis, he said the practice was a major cause of flooding, appealing to all stakeholders to ensure an attitudinal change in their dealings with waste and the environment.
“Beyond just listening here, I would like to encourage each one of us to ‘Be a Part of the Solution and Not Part of the Pollution,’” he said, explaining that the policy thrust of the ministry to eliminate plastic pollution in the state was one of the factors that led to the encouragement of the Waste to Wealth Programme.
He said the collaboration with NCF had helped in no small measure in promoting environmental awareness and advocacy on conservation matters in the state, while also showcasing the implementation of policies and programmes of the state government on environmental protection and natural resource conservation.
He described the theme for the event as a “wake-up call” to stakeholders on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on human health, future generations, and the environment we live in.
According to him, the aim was to provide the opportunity to sensitise individuals, enterprises, and communities about preserving and enhancing the environment and trigger an alarm on the increasing global threat to the sustainability of the environment, especially as it affects Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11, 12, 14, and 15 through the use of plastics.
In Nigeria, it has been reported that about 2.5 million tonnes of plastics are generated annually, including sachet water bags, single-use plastic bags, etc.
Lagos State has been estimated to generate about 870,000 metric tonnes of plastic annually, constituting about 15 per cent of the total waste generated in the state.
Wahab said the state government, in its efforts to ensure proper containerization and separation of waste at the point of generation, is presently engaging major producers in the beverage and other sectors on the need to take responsibility for the end of life of these plastics through extended producer responsibility to ensure a cleaner and more liveable Lagos.
Chairman of the National Executive Council, NCF, Senator Ede Dafinone, said the mission was to increase awareness and advocate for a better and healthier environment where “we all can prosper while living in harmony with nature.”
Quoting the UN Environment Programme, Dafinone said: “Plastics are polluting our planet and choking our ocean, harming human health, and damaging ecosystems vital to our livelihoods.”
According to him, plastic pollution has become a menace that cannot be overlooked, especially in a metropolitan city like Lagos, adding that being a coastal city with aquatic characteristics has made it susceptible to the effects of plastic pollution.
“Our oceans and beaches are filled with plastics that destroy the marine ecosystem as they kill marine animals in large numbers. This is dangerous to us as a people and to a city like Lagos.
“What needs to change this scenario is a change of attitude and orientation about proper waste management, a culture of maintaining cleaner surroundings, and living a sustainable lifestyle,” he said.
He said it has become imperative to encourage sustainable consumer choices, embrace eco-friendly packaging, support clean-up initiatives, promote plastic-free alternatives, advocate for plastic-free oceans, and promote reusable items more as some of the solutions.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Gaji Omibolaji Tajudeen, said that plastic pollution has become a menace that cannot be overlooked, especially in a metropolitan city like Lagos.
He called for a change of attitude and orientation about proper waste management, a culture of maintaining cleaner surroundings, and living a sustainable lifestyle.
He said there was a need to encourage sustainable consumer choices, embrace eco-friendly packaging, support clean-up initiatives, promote plastic-free alternatives, advocate for plastic-free oceans, and promote reusable items more as some of the solutions.
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