The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria says it has prioritized initiatives and programmes to promote circular management of waste in its budgetary submission for the 2024 fiscal year.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, stated this at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Second Chemical Handler and Users Workshop held in Ogun State, South West Nigeria.
The Minister said Ogun State, alongside other selected states of the federation, would witness special intervention projects of the federal government to promote waste to wealth and waste to energy this year.
“Recently, the ministry set up a “Circular Nigeria Committee” to come up with innovative, inclusive, locally acceptable, business friendly, and scalable ways to implement the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap. We have also announced a ban on single use plastics in all departments, agencies, programs, and projects of the Ministry. ” He said.
According to him, “In the days ahead, we shall be presenting a memo at the Federal Executive Council praying FEC to approve the banning of single use plastics in all MDAs of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He stated that these measures are symbolic demonstrations of the Nigerian government commitment to tackle the plastic waste menace in our environment and a warning shot that waste generation and management in the country can not remain business as usual.
The Minister also called on ministries of environments across the country to immediately adopt the policy of banning single use plastics in all their offices and operations as a minimum symbolic demonstration and preparation for the inevitable ban of single use plastics in Nigeria.
Dr Iziaq noted that the Nigerian government is aware of several obstacles to the implementation of a circular economy in Nigeria, including inadequate policy, legal and regulatory framework, and insufficient funds dedicated to promoting the concept.
“Despite these challenges, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is resolute in achieving a clean circular and buoyant economy for the nation, the Federal Ministry of Environment as part of its deliverables under the 8 presidential priority areas is expected to commence the full implementation of the circular economy roadmap for the country this 2024.” He said.
He explained that the ministry is taking proactive measures to promote sound circular economy principles and practices in the country.
“We must also appreciate that the large volume of waste being generated in the country presents circular economy business opportunities across the waste management value chain which should be properly harnessed for job creation, establishment of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, private sector investment including foreign direct investment” The Minister stated.
The Minister further stressed that the transition to a circular economy is a collective action and urged stakeholders to take responsibility to maximize all the opportunities that sustainable chemicals and waste management have to offer to build a healthy population and economy.
He, however, commended the Ogun State Government and the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA.
Shakirat Sadiq
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