As Nigeria celebrates on Tuesday this year’s World Environmental Day, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is scheduled to grace the celebration at State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, who disclosed this at a Media forum, said the government attaches great importance to the holistic development of the sector.He announced plan by government to introduce a National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, aimed at regulating the use of disposal of the products in the country.
According to him, “We have developed a strategy to phase out non biodegradable plastics by establishing 26 plants as well as implementation of Waste Recycling Programme.”“Some countries, Eriteria Rwana, Mauritania, Morocco and Kenya have outlawed the used of plastic bags, others like South Africa, England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland have placed fee on its use.”
He also said that this is apt for Nigeria people bearing in mind our peculiar nature to dispose plastic and polythene, which constitutes a major environmental concern in society.“Even more alarming is the fact that plastic pollution is poisoning our waters, lands, injuring marine lives and animals, and human health. This is our time to act on our environment,” he added.
He therefore urged Nigerians to avoid disposing waste plastic bags, pure water nylon and bottles indiscriminating into habitat, streams, canals, rivers and seas. In India, the global host country launched its official countdown to June 5 with a historic slate of activities ranging from nationwide clean-ups, to single-use plastic bans across States, Universities and National Parks.
Globally, government officials outlined plans from communities large and small aimed at beating plastic pollution through civic engagement and celebration. They promise to make this the largest and most substantial World Environment Day ever.
“Beat Plastic Pollution”, the theme for World Environment Day 2018, is a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. The theme invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife – and our own health,” he said.
“World Environment Day is not just a celebration of the wonder of the natural world it is an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with that world and mobilize global action for causes that unite us,” Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment said. “The world is waking up to the fact that plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time, but that it’s also something that we can solve. This year’s World Environment Day is therefore a call to action for all of us.”
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