The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on the Federal Government to implement policy interventions aimed at curbing plastic pollution in Nigeria.
The NITP National President, Dr Ogbonna Chime, made the call in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Secretary of the institute, Dr Jesse Nor, as part of the activities to celebrate the World Environment Day
Chime urged the government to ban the use of plastics as packaging materials in stores and markets.
He lamented that even though plastic pollution has serious negative impact on sectors like tourism and recreation, water resources management, serious attention is yet to be paid in curbing the dangerous trend.
He reiterated that when plastic pollution is prevented, it will have positive implications on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): especially on SDG 3, which is Good Health and Wellbeing.
According to him, the implication of effective management of the menace will be positive on SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, as well as SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The statement read in part; “The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) joins the global community in celebrating this year’s World Environment Day, which holds on June 5 every year.
“The theme of the celebration, which is “Beat Plastic Pollution” resonates with the thoughts of the Institute, that waste must be properly managed in order to enhance the livability standard of the Country’s human settlements.
“It has been shown that plastics are resourceful and beneficial to human system in the areas of packaging, material conservation and energy management. However, in many African cities generation of plastic waste tends to exceed the carrying capacity to manage it. Thus, plastic waste issues are one of the urban crises in contemporary times. For instance, plastic pollution is already threatening hydrological, as well as public health systems.
“It is a known fact that plastic pollution has also had serious negative impact on sectors like tourism and recreation, water resources management (watershed): drinking, contaminating the food chain, as well as agriculture and food processing value chain. There is also climate risks and other ecological issues, due to non-biodegradable nature of plastics.
“In Nigeria, plastic waste is observed in various cities, towns and villages – contaminating water resources, and littering streets. Plastic waste is even found in foods and drinks, when used for packaging / storage. Plastic waste audit indicates that for a city like Lagos, each resident generates and throw 10 plastic water bottles on a daily basis (UNEP and UN-Habitat, 2020). Plastic components such as bottles, sachets, polyethylene bags are also found in landfills, waterways, and in the oceans.
“In order to contain the menace of plastic pollution, some management strategies like collection, crushing, recycling, and so on, have been initiated at different scales in cities and towns. This is heartwarming.
“As Town Planners, we are concerned about plastic pollution because it is a danger to effective planning of human settlements for functionality, healthy living and aesthetic. Achieving these objectives of physical planning will be extremely difficult when plastic waste is not effectively contained.
“Additionally, the Institute want to reiterate that when plastic pollution is prevented, it will have positive implications on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): especially on SDG 3, which is Good Health and Wellbeing. Furthermore, the implication of effective management of the menace will be positive on SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, as well as SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Others with which direct linkage will be established are SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13 on Climate Actions.
“As we celebrate WED, the NITP recommends policy interventions through enactment of laws and regulations on multi-use of plastics, as well as banning of plastics as packaging materials in stores and markets. This should be made effective through stern enforcement.
“There is also the need to activate circular economy that will ensure reuse of plastics. This should be complemented with creation of incentives for companies that are currently using ‘reduce models’ in plastic for packaging. The use of organic materials such as leaves for packaging of food, instead of plastics and related materials should be pursued. Plastics can also be reused for construction, as polymers and cement for flooring and interlocks. We believe that the plastic waste trade is a possibility in malls and stores of Nigeria, just like carbon trading.
“The Institute wishes Nigeria a safe, healthy and risk-free environment, as it joins the entire world in the celebration”.
