FG, Stakeholders Take Decisive Steps In Tackling Plastic Pollution

The Federal Ministry of Environment has developed and is implementing a National Policy on Plastic Waste Management that will provide a strategic framework for reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and encouraging innovation in alternatives to single-use plastics.

Minister of Environment Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal said this in a keynote address at the 2025 World Environment Day Commemoration, held yesterday in Abuja. He also disclosed that his ministry collaborates with key stakeholders across government, industry, and civil society to ensure that environmental policies translate into meaningful impact.

The minister said this year’s World Environment Day theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution,” resonates with a global urgency that cannot be overstated, adding that plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue but also an economic and public health crisis.

While warning that plastic waste dumped into oceans, rivers, and drainage systems endangers wildlife and contributes to flooding in urban centers, the minister also lamented that our cities and rural communities suffer from the burden of unchecked plastic pollution, ranging from sachet water bags littering streets to microplastics entering our food chain and causing public health concerns.

“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are taking decisive steps to address plastic pollution at all levels. We support innovative circular economy models to drive recycling and promote plastic alternatives, especially across government ministries, departments, and agencies”.

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“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. The Ministry collaborates with key government, industry, and civil society stakeholders to ensure that environmental policies translate into meaningful impact. However, we cannot do this alone. The fight against plastic pollution and other environmental challenges must be a people-oriented movement. This is a fight for the preservation of our ecosystems, the future of our children, and the survival of our dear planet”, he said.

Mrs. Alero Balogun, senior vice president, corporate service of Oando Clean Energy (OCEL), the renewable energy business subsidiary of Oando Energy Resources, part of the Oando PLC group of companies, cautioned that plastic pollution is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality.

She revealed that over 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated globally every year, of which only 10% is recycled. She warned that unless preventive measures are taken, this figure will double by 2040.

Mrs. Balagun stressed that in Nigeria, plastic litter clogs our drains, pollutes our waterways, chokes our soil, and endangers livelihoods, particularly in communities where environmental safeguards are weakest, adding that amidst these challenges lies a remarkable 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. It is why we proudly align with this year’s celebration’s mission and continue to support the Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES) and other grassroots-led environmental initiatives across the country”.

“In line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP’s) global mandate and RUWES’ local vision, OCEL’s flagship contribution to tackling plastic pollution is our PET Bottle Recycling Project in Ogun State. This project is designed to be a centre of innovation and impact, with a monthly processing capacity of 2,750 metric tons of PET plastic. This translates to over 100 million PET bottles being diverted from landfills and open environments every month. Instead of polluting our lands and rivers, these materials will be transformed into valuable raw materials for new products, fuelling a truly circular economy”, she said.