Nigeria To Phase Out Non-Bio Degradable Plastics – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (File Photo)

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that a national strategy to phasing out of non-bio degradable plastics in Nigeria has been development by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with important stakeholder.

Osinbajo said this while speaking at an event to mark the 2018 World Environment Day on Tuesday at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Vice President disclosed that 8 plastic waste recycling plants, have been completed and handed over to the state government while 18 others are still being constructed.

He also said that the ministry was working in partnership with the state governments to develop a national plastic waste recycling programme involving the establishment of recycling plants across Nigeria.

“In addition, the federal government is also collaborating with the state governments to establish plastic waste recycling plants under the community-based waste management programme in the ministry,” he said.

The Osinbajo revealed that one plastic recycling plants was being constructed in Lokoja, Kogi State, while two others have been completed in Kwara State. He added that work was ongoing on another in Karu Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, all in North Central geopolitical zone.

He added that privately run plastic recycling firm are other part of the country. He also asked for corporations to get involved in plastic recycling.

“It is my view that for controlling the proliferation of plastic sachets, we must go back to the major producers of fast-moving goods to put in place recycling programmes that could effectively ensure that while we seek environmentally-friendly options for packaging, we are keeping the environment as free of plastics as possible,” he said.

Professor Osinbajo said that Nigeria expects multi-nationals like Coca Cola, which has committed to collecting and recycling the equivalent of all drink containers it ships, including 110 billion plastic bottles; and Unilever and Procter and Gamble, which have begun recycled plastics; would make and fulfill the same pledges in Nigeria.

He also called on the multinationals to partner with governments at the states and local governments “to ensure that we maintain the critical balance between economic growth and a safe and livable environment.”

“Nigeria is in a good place to lead Africa and indeed the world in beating plastic pollution,” Osinbajo said.

This Nation Online reports that the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin said the ministry has done quite a lot in the area of pollution and waste management.