CODAF, OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CSOs LAUNCH ALTERNATIVE PAPER BAG PACKAGING TO REPLACE SINGLE USE PLASTIC IN NIGERIA

Background

There must be perpetual reiteration of the global menace of plastics in our environment; this is not just because of its stain on the aesthetics of modern civilization, but also its impact on both our health and the economic. The predominance of plastic pollution globally, is of great threat to every matrices of the environment, including water, air and land. The unquantifiable global health effect is undoubtedly a serious aspect that should motivate all hands in pushing for a perfect lasting solution to this cheap material.

According to a report published by UNEP, every year an equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes, with over 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. This is not just a threat to humans, but also aquatic organisms, which are victims of problems created by man’s unwise consumption.

In Nigeria, the increasing manufacture of single-use plastics, as well as the unregulated discharge of plastic trash into land and marine environments, is contributing to widespread plastic pollution.

In 2022, Nigeria ranked tenth in the world among nations that contribute the most to plastic pollution, with around 2.5 million tons generated each year. Unfortunately, more than 88% of the plastic garbage created in Nigeria is not recyclable, nor properly disposed. Instead, much of it ends up in bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, drains, lagoons, and the ocean.

Studies have shown that plastic pollution has significant impacts on the blue economy in Nigeria with the fishing industry, tourism, and human health as the most affected sectors.

In a bid to profound a perpetual solution to the menace of plastic pollution in Nigeria, Printrite in collaboration with CODAF and other relevant stakeholders organized the launch of the “Plastic Alternative Container (PAC)” initiative.

Present in this event were over 50 representative across different organizations, states and country, including His Excellency, Ambassador Christopher Bazivamo (The Rwanda high commissioner) humbly represented by his deputy Mr. Benard Ruba Kubia  .

During the goodwill message, Mr. Leke Olushola Emmanual, chairman Nigeria Environment Society (NES) FCT, commended the effort of PFSEE and the initiative of PAC, stating that it is a strategic action plan toward environment sustainability. Further stressing the harm of plastic waste in the environment, he stated that we all have responsibility to care of our environment for posterity sake.

Addressing all participants, Mr. Benard Ruba Kubia stated that global production of plastic over the last decade have increased to an estimate of 400million tonnes produced every year. Unfortunately, only 9% of the total plastic wastes generated are recycled, while 12% is incinerated and the rest ends up in the environment or landfills. This is a great challenge that needs to be address

Providing insight on how Rwanda became the first country to successfully ban single-used plastic in 2008, he outlined the following strategizes employed:

1.      Public awareness campaign to educate people about environmental impact of single use plastic and benefit of bans.

2.      Strict inspection at boarders and airports to prevent smuggling of banned single used plastic bags.

3.      Application of strict penalty of those who are found violating the  ban

4.      Government set up business and other entrepreneurial activities, to encourage compliance of those affected by the ban of single used plastic bags

5.      Promoting alternatives and innovation solutions

6.      Collaboration with international organization

Lastly, he commended the organizers of the event for the platform they have set up to foster strategic collaboration and partnership with other organizations.

Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, the program manager- Energy and circular economy at European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS in his keynote address stated that citizens, manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders need a mind shift towards a culture that discourages the use of single use plastics. Further stressing that “If we must achieve the ban of plastics, manufacturers, citizens and other stakeholders must be active participants of policy making process “. This will help to boost their support to abiding to plastic ban policies in Nigeria.

Speaking on the effort of the European Union (EU) in supporting the plastic alternatives initiatives both globally and intercontinentally Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia sited that upon recognizing the major challenges of plastic pollution, the EU initiated the global alliance for circular economy and resource initiatives spare headed by European Nation (EU) and United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support from United Nation of Environment Program (UNEP), in which Nigeria was also a member of that alliance. The initiative fostered the international collaboration to address plastic pollution including the marine environment.

According to him, European Union (EU) also supported the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in developing the  Plastic waste regulation, which will be implemented as a working policy in Nigeria.

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