FG launches roadmap to combat plastic pollution

The federal government has launched a comprehensive roadmap aimed at addressing plastic pollution in the country.

Speaking at the launch held over the weekend in Abuja, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal said Nigeria faces significant challenges in managing the large volumes of plastic waste generated.

He emphasised that these challenges also present opportunities for developing a circular economy within the plastic waste management sector, which could stimulate job creation, promote micro, small, and medium enterprises, and attract private sector investment, including foreign direct investment.

“Since joining the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) in February 2021, Nigeria has taken significant steps towards combating plastic pollution, becoming the first country to join this initiative,” Lawal said.

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He further stated that in May 2023, the ministry, in collaboration with GPAP, launched the Nigerian International Plastic Action Partnership.

This locally-led, multi-stakeholder platform is dedicated to fostering collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, academia, international partners, and local stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions, he said.

Despite these efforts, Lawal acknowledged several persistent challenges, such as an inadequate policy and regulatory framework, low public awareness, economic constraints, and a natural resistance to change.

To combat these issues, he introduced a robust roadmap for plastics that will guide the pursuit of sustainability in the sector and provide a framework for effective implementation.

Ms. Clemence Schmid, Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) at the World Economic Forum (WEF), said since 2021, the Nigerian National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) has been a crucial platform uniting key stakeholders across the plastic value chain to drive impactful, multi-stakeholder actions.

“We celebrate the participation and leadership of six diverse communities, including the NPAP steering board co-chaired by the Federal Ministry of Environment and our Air Force. Today’s event represents more than just a launch. It is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to forging a cleaner and more sustainable future for Nigeria,” Schmid said.

She said that with 175 nations now working towards a UN legally binding instrument to end public pollution, their goal is to convince stakeholders across sectors and inspire inclusive, evidence-based efforts that will cultivate a circular economy for best effects.

She stated, “This roadmap stands as a major milestone in our shared journey, offering a clear and actionable blueprint for change.”

Also, the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. B. H. Abubakar, said that as an action partnership, GPAC, will never retreat from its responsibility and also guide the nation rightly.

She said that Nigeria has been actively working with key partners and stakeholders to develop a robust, coordinated approach to managing plastic pollution.

She said, “Today, we celebrate progress in a collaborative effort that has been lost in the past that has not lost its form. As an organization, to promote the design of combat plastic pollution, I would like to use this opportunity to express the minister’s gratitude to the WEF for their dedication to making the GPAC a reality.”