Environment
Expert Seeks Legislation To Check Dumping Of Plastic Wastes
The Chancellor of the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), Sir Benson Abu has called for a legislative framework to end the indiscriminate dumping of plastic wastes in the country.
Abu said this in a lecture at the 2018 seminar of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Rivers/Bayelsa chapter in Port Harcourt.
The seminar had as its theme: “Recycling of Plastic Waste for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Environment.”
Abu, who also called for the inclusion of Waste Management into the curriculum of educational institutions in the country said that the recycling of wastes owes a brighter prospects for the future of the Nigerian economy.
He pointed out that because of the global nature of waste management business, the government should work out modalities for the involvement of Nigerian youths.
Also speaking, Mr. Keluo Chukwuogo described the indiscriminate dumping of plastic wastes into the environment as a time bomb waiting to explode, adding that both plastic and other wastes not only pollute the environment but also underground water.
He also said that plastic waste poisons the ecosystem, stressing that efforts must be made to put inplace processes that will lead to the recycling of plastic wastes in the country.
In another development, an environmentalist, Sir Benson Abu has said that it takes over 400 years for plastic waste to decompose, warning against excess dependence on plastics.
Abu, Chancellor, Rivers Chapter, Waste Management Society of Nigeria made the assertion in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt to mark World Environment Day 2018.
Abu said there was need for a quick shift or reduced use of plastics and urged government at all levels to adopt recycling strategy.
He said that plastic waste management had become a global problem that called for action which, according to him, formed this year’s World Environment Day theme: “Beating Plastic Pollution”.
“Almost everything around us is packaged in plastics, the eatery, laundry, beverage, electronics, drinks and others are all packaged in plastics whose end products are waste either buried in the soil or littered on water bodies.
“These plastic wastes because they are non-biodegradable occupy our water bodies destroying aquatic animals, plants and humans.
“If use of plastics is not greatly reduced, plastic waste will eventually constitute a problem to humans in the future since it takes over 400 years for it to complete decomposition process.
“That means a whole lot of chemical and space problem to plants and animals,” he said.
Abu urged the government to ensure policies that would regulate waste management to encourage sorting from primary dump sites and enhance easy assemblage of plastic waste for onward conveyance to specified dump sites.
He appealed to town planners to set aside special dump sites for plastic waste to enable waste collectors assemble only plastic wastes on such sites.
The environment expert also enjoined government to partner with the private sector to invest in waste recycling as this, according to him, is a capital intensive venture.
He said that revenue, employment generation and a robust environment preservation strategy were some of the key benefits in wastes recycling enterprise.
Meanwhile, some residents in parts of Port Harcourt have condemned incessant burning of tyres near river banks
Some residents of Elechi Beach, Diobu area of Port Harcourt urged the government to monitor waste management processes by companies and vulcanisers in the state.
Mr Ema Jude, a civil servant and resident of Mile 2 area, said residents were being subjected to unhealthy gas emissions from burning of tyres.
“The government should ensure an end to this poisonous gas emissions from burning of tyres and other non-biodegradable and chemical waste by companies in this area.”
standards.
“This poisonous emissions also depletes the ozone layer which is a major cause of global warming and climate change,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Government has in a statement to commemorate the 2018 World Environment Day, promised to pay more attention to the environment.
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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