According to Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, the country generates nearly 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year.
This is a massive amount for a county with a population of around 200 million people. Furthermore, the country recycles only about one-tenth of the total plastic waste generated, according to the Minister.
The Minister was speaking at an event to unveil the Plastics Industry Gap Analysis report.
The main drivers of rising plastic pollution in the country are cited as a lack of waste management infrastructure, insufficient public awareness, indiscriminate dumping and burning of plastic waste, and a poor behavioral attitude. The lack of public and private funding has stymied the development of waste management infrastructure.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of the Technical Assistance project, being implemented with support from the French government. He hoped that the project will help the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to ensure sustainable development in the country.
The Gap Analysis report will serve as a useful handbook for all participants of the Solid Waste Management sector, he hoped.
