- FG sets up an inter-ministerial committee to implement single-use plastic ban across Nigeria.
- Ban includes styrofoam, plastic bags, sachet water, straws, and PET bottles.
- The move targets plastic pollution, protecting marine life and public health.
- The committee will design and enforce national strategies for proper waste management.
The Federal Government has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics across Nigeria. This decision aims to curb plastic pollution and its damaging effects on public health, ecosystems, and marine life.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented by Permanent Secretary Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday in Abuja. The decision follows the approval of a memo presented by the Minister of Environment during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on June 25, 2024.
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According to the government, the banned items include polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles, styrofoam, plastic bags, sachet water, and straws. Akume noted that improper disposal of these materials has become a major environmental hazard, contaminating land and water and endangering wildlife.
“The Federal Government approved this ban to address growing health and environmental concerns linked to single-use plastics,” Akume stated. “These materials take years to decompose and release toxic chemicals that threaten both humans and animals.”
The newly inaugurated inter-ministerial committee consists of representatives from key ministries, departments, agencies, and environmental organisations. It has been tasked with coordinating the nationwide phase-out of single-use plastics and ensuring that the policy is properly implemented.
Its responsibilities include investigating issues related to plastic pollution, evaluating the ban’s social and economic effects, and promoting sustainable waste management practices across all sectors.
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Akume described the initiative as a key step in Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A report by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group estimates that Nigeria generates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with Lagos State alone contributing about 870,000 tonnes. The state government had earlier announced its own ban on styrofoam and other single-use plastic items in 2024.
With this new development, the Federal Government’s broader nationwide enforcement is expected to follow through effectively, marking a major shift toward a cleaner, healthier Nigeria.
