Nigeria tackles plastic pollution with imminent ban of single-use plastics
Nigeria has joined the ranks of African nations combating the global plastic crisis by prohibiting single-use plastics, including items such as straws, cutlery, plastic bottles, and water sachets.
Recent research conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) revealed that Lagos alone sees an estimated 50-60 million used water sachets littering its streets daily.
The ban will initially take effect within all national ministries, departments, and agencies, with the environment ministry emphasizing the imperative of setting a precedent. The plan is to extend the ban across the nation starting January of the following year.
The majority of single-use plastics and packaging, derived from fossil fuels, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, thereby exacerbating climate change.
Despite the clear environmental advantages, the ban has sparked controversy in Nigeria, a country heavily reliant on plastic products.
At the moment, the government is formulating a new policy on plastic usage, aiming for a gradual eradication of plastic waste.
Nigeria ranks among the world's leading plastic polluters, producing in excess of 2.5 million tons of plastic waste each year. The absence of a robust waste collection system, coupled with inadequate recycling infrastructure, results in over 70% of this waste being discarded into the ocean or landfills.
