Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2023 edition of the World Environment Day on 3rd of June 2023 in Abuja under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
Organised under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Environment with the support of the European Union-funded Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme (NCCRP) and other NGOs, the event attracted around 200 participants and featured presentations, cultural dance, drama sketch among others.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Yusufu Idris Ibrahim said, “Nigeria is one of the countries with the fastest growing population in the world and produces enormous volumes of wastes as a result of her prevalent linear economy (extract-make-use-dispose) approach to production and consumption, where materials are used to manufacture products that last one lifespan before becoming waste.”
Nigeria generates an estimated 2.5 million tons of plastic waste annually, of which 12% is recycled and 88% of plastic waste ending up in landfills, waterways, and oceans.
Delivering a lecture on “Plastic Waste in Marine Environment: Causes, Effects and Solutions” at the event, NCCRP’s Key Expert on Solid Waste Management, Dr. Taiwo Hammed said while eliminating the use of plastics is difficult, beating the attendant pollution lies in channeling plastics back to the value chain as much as possible with the introduction of policies and enforceable regulations. He added that scrap tyres can be converted into Carbon Black, Paver Bricks and Wax Polish while T-Shirts can be produced from 28 PET bottles.
“The waste materials can be cleaned, melted and converted back into recyclable raw materials which can be returned into the industrial stream”, Dr Hammed concluded.
Taiwo Hammed (NCCRP Key Expert) delivering a lecture on solutions to plastic pollution by Kayode Egbeleye (2023)
A cross section of participants at the 2023 World Environment Day by Kayode Egbeleye (2023)
Also speaking at the event, a representative of the European Union Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS region, Mr. Sabri Mekaoui said the issue of plastic pollution should be tackled from political, economic, societal, technological environmental, and legal perspectives.
According to Mr. Mekaoui, there is a rising awareness of plastic pollution, and the EU is supporting the Nigerian Government through the Nigerian Climate Change Response Programme to combat plastic pollution and mitigate its impact on climate change.
Directors of the Federal Ministry of Environment and other agencies pose for a group photograph during the 2023 World Environment Day celebration in Abuja by Kayode Egbeleye (2023)
This year’s World Environment Day in Abuja was co- organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment, Oxfam, the Oando Foundation, and the European Union.
NCCRP 