The Federal Ministry of the Environment has expressed commitment to tackling the environmental challenges being pose by plastic pollution and climate climate change in the country.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal gave the assurance on Tuesday at an event to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day with the theme; "Ending Plastic Pollution”, organised by the Ministry in Abuja.
The minister said in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the FG is taking decisive steps to address the menace at all levels since plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue but also an economic as well as public health concern.
As a deliberate strategy, the Minister said his Ministry is implementing a National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which provides a strategic framework for reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and encouraging innovation in alternatives to single-use plastics.
Also, the ministry has launched a programme which makes plastic producers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products among other initiatives.
“We are also supporting innovative circular economy models to drive recycling and promote plastic alternatives, especially across government ministries, departments, and agencies.
“Additionally, we have launched the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, which mandates producers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products – from production to disposal," he noted.
According, efforts are targeted at collaboration with key stakeholders across government, industry, and civil society to ensure that environmental policies translate into meaningful healthy environment for all.
According to him, the war against plastic pollution and other environmental challenges can only be won via people-oriented movement, as the government cannot do it alone.
In his address, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, who spoke through Mr. Yaho Bennard, said the challenge of plastic pollution requires coordinated regional response to tackle even as he disclosed that ECOWAS has adopted a regional regulation of plastic products and best practices in plastic waste management.
“According to the World Bank, the West Africa region generates nearly I million metering tons of plastic waste every year. A figure that is set to rise by 52% in five years time. More than 80% of plastic is poorly managed in West Africa adversely affecting human, animal, health, ecosystem and Blue Economy sector," Touray stated.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari, described the threat plastic waste poses on the ecosystem and planet over the years as one of the most urgent environmental challenges.
“This year’s commemoration goes beyond symbolism, it’s a clarion call to intensify our efforts through effective policy implementation, public awareness, responsible consumption and investment in sustainable alternatives," he stressed.
In her Goodwill message, SVP, Corporate Service of Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), Alero Balogun, said that plastic problem is not just a technical challenge, but a social imperative as well as an economic opportunity.
"At OCEL, we believe that solving the plastic problem is not just a technical challenge, it is a social imperative, an economic opportunity, and a climate necessity.
"As we mark World Environment Day 2025, let this not be just another annual event. Let this be the beginning or the continuation of a movement. One that puts people at the center, plastic in the right place, and purpose behind every partnership."