At least 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is being generated in Nigeria annually a development that is affecting food safety and quality in the country.
Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Dr Ishaq Salako, disclosed this during the just concluded Plastic Waste Sustainability Summit organized by the Anambra State Waste Recycling Association (ASWRA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment.
Salako noted that waste plastic remains the major contributor to land and water pollution, causing environmental disasters in farmlands across the country.
According to him, plastic pollution has become one of the gravest environmental problems not only in Nigeria but the world as a whole.
He said, “In Nigeria, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Environment is putting together a national system to support cycler management of waste products like plastic, aluminium, electro and electrical equipment, batteries and so on, I want to assure Anambra Government that once the system becomes operational, the state will gets it slot of benefits.
“I, therefore, enjoined you all to join Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo on his drive for a clean, green and sustainable Anambra State.”
In their separate speeches, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; the State Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe; Chief of staff to the governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi and the Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Ibrahim Adejuwon, say that it is important to provide an enabling environment for investments in the recycling business.
They noted that the government is ready to support the efforts geared towards the conversion of waste to wealth, waste to biogas, waste to compost manure, waste to energy and waste to other useful products.
In his address, the State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, said recycling hubs and banks are being set up across Anambra State in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s agenda on waste to wealth, adding that plastic wastes can be taken to these hubs and exchanged for cash or other valuable items.
The Commissioner noted that the ministry under his watch will ensure that the advocacy for a clean and green environment is sustained across the 179 communities in the state.
The convener of the summit, Philip Obuesi, said it is necessary for all residents to subscribe to the clean, green and sustainable Anambra by changing their attitudes towards the environment.
The keynote speaker, Dr David Onuoha who spoke on the topic “Overcoming plastic pollution through community empowerment, capacity building and Stakeholders participation: A focus on the communities in Anambra State,” listed some of the causes of plastic pollution including inadequate waste management, consumer behaviour, lack of awareness, plastic production, ineffective regulations, packaging practices, natural events and population growth, adding that the sustainability routes include reuse, recycle, reduce, remove, replace and management and value chain initiative.
It was gathered that the sustainability summit featured the presentation of awards, and prizes to companies and communities that participated in the just concluded all-community plastic challenge competition.
