Posted by According to the Federal Ministry of Environment, researching other nations’ circular economy approaches to plastics management has become essential.
This was said on Wednesday at a “Seminar on Plastic Circular Economy with Case Studies” sponsored by the UNIDO project “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chain Through Circular Economy Practises” in Abuja by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, the ministry’s director of pollution control and environmental health.
Bokani stated that Nigeria was no stranger to environmental issues because of the growing amount of plastic garbage that is produced by people shopping, eating, and drinking, among other activities.
He states: “These issues are not new to Nigeria because of the growing amount of plastic waste in our environment from various sources, like shopping, food packaging, and beverage storage. Plastics clog drainage systems, pollute the environment, and release harmful gases when burned or incinerated, which have a catastrophic impact on both human health and the environment.”
“Therefore, in order to adopt areas that can apply to our local and national scenarios, it is necessary to understudy what other countries are doing in terms of circular economy practices in plastics management.”
During the conference, Mr. Jean Bakole, the regional coordinator of UNIDO, also spoke. He explained that the purpose of the conference was to discuss plastic waste and the ongoing projects. He revealed that Nigeria has witnessed an exponential increase in consumption, going from over 500,000 metric tons annually to about 1.2 million metric tons. This also highlights the issues of consumption and management in Nigeria, which would be a major issue for both Nigeria and its neighbors if it is not addressed and handled well.
“It is a blessing and a curse that Nigeria is located near the coast; this means that Nigeria may serve as a conduit for plastic pollution to other regions of the world.”
He was also pleased with the degree of cooperation that sub-nationals and the federal government have.
Observing how well the federal government collaborates with state governments is one of the main benefits of these initiatives. We value it much since it facilitates work and ensures that everyone is making an equal contribution to the project’s success,” he continued.
The Japanese Embassy said in a goodwill statement given at the ceremony that Japan’s government will keep supporting Nigeria’s efforts to create a sustainable plastic value chain and improve the lives of its citizens.