As Nigeria joined the global community in commemorating World Environment Day, the Foundation for Earth Rights Assembly (FERA) has identified single-use plastics as a major factor undermining the efficiency of waste management systems across Nigerian cities.
During a press briefing organized as part of activities marking the day themed "End Plastic Pollution," FERA's Executive Director, Nosa Tokunbor, described plastic pollution as one of the greatest environmental challenges of the 21st century, causing extensive damage to ecosystems and human health.
Nigeria's Plastic Waste Crisis in Numbers
Citing a report by the World Bank-commissioned West African Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA), Tokunbor revealed that less than 12% of plastic waste is recycled in Nigeria. The country currently has only eight plastic waste recovery plants, with another 18 reportedly in various stages of development.
"Nigeria's total annual plastic waste stands at approximately 1.5 million metric tonnes," Tokunbor stated, adding that three of the world's 20 most plastic-polluted rivers are located in Nigeria.
A 2024 United Nations Environment Programme research found that an estimated 50-60 million used sachets are discarded on Lagos streets daily, highlighting the severity of the problem in Nigeria's commercial hub.
Global Context and Local Impact
"Plastic pollution has been a rising global concern, with increasing plastic consumption every year. Plastics are now omnipresent in our daily lives. We find plastics in lakes, rivers, and oceans. It dots city streets and farmers' fields. Plastics are bursting from dumpsites. They are piling up in deserts and slithering their way into sea ice," Tokunbor explained.
He noted that global plastic use is projected to grow considerably over the next four decades, reaching more than 1.2 billion metric tons by 2060.
This year's World Environment Day comes two months before countries meet in the Republic of Korea to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution, including in marine environments.
The Circular Economy Challenge
Tokunbor emphasized that the current plastic lifecycle is far from circular. "Globally, only 9% of plastic waste is ultimately recycled, while 19% is incinerated and almost 50% goes to sanitary landfills. The remaining 22% is disposed of in uncontrolled dumpsites, burned in open pits, or leaked into the environment," he said.
Despite these challenges, Tokunbor acknowledged that Nigeria is making progress in regulating plastic pollution by passing laws on plastic waste management and extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements, with a ban on plastic bags currently in the works.
Recommendations for Action
FERA called for more ambitious policies to address plastic pollution, including:
- Creating incentives for recycling and enhancing sorting at source
- Extending producer responsibility (EPR) schemes
- Implementing landfill and incineration taxes
- Establishing deposit-refund and pay-as-you-throw schemes
"The plastic waste crisis is truly an issue of global concern requiring immediate action from policymakers, regulators, industry, and civil society," Tokunbor concluded, urging collective action to tackle plastic pollution through sustainable practices that drive systemic change.
