WorldStage Newsonline– The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on industries to develop a Sustainable alternatives and embrace circular economy principles to reduce the menace of waste management in the country.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the call at a workshop on Circular and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Free Plastics in Africa Project, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Lawal was represented by Mr Yunusa Abdulganiu, Director, Pollution Control and environmental Health, Ministry of Environment.
He said that the industries must rise to counter the socio economic challenges in the country to develop a sustainable alternative and embrace circular economy principles.
“In the same vein, the academic community has a crucial role to play in advancing research and innovation, while civil society organisations must also key in.
“Also every Nigerian citizen has a part to play in adopting responsible consumption and waste management practices,”Lawal said.
The minister further explained that the project had sought to reduce the importation and the use of PoPs in plastics that contained products in automobile, constructions and electronics sector.
“Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) emphasised the importance of sustainable waste management in combating climate change,” he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the project was significance in addressing a complex and pressing environmental challenges in the country.
“As Nigeria’s apex environmental regulatory agency, NESREA recognises the gravity of this challenge and the tremendous opportunity this project presents for gradual and systemic change.
“In Nigeria, our focus on the electronics sector under this project is particularly strategic,’’ lawal said.
Barikor, however, said that Nigeria had overtime, emerged as a regional hub for electronic goods in West Africa, with all the advantages and disadvantages associated with the sector.
According to him, this project provides necessary tools, resources and partnerships for transforming the sector into a model of environmental responsibility and circular economy principles.
