Worried by the danger of plastic pollution, the Akwa Ibom State Government has advocated for a promulgation of a workable law in Nigeria to address the problem.
The law, it said should be fashioned to prevent indiscriminate dumping of plastics and its related wastes in the environment.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Moses Ekpo, made the call on Tuesday on the occasion of the 2018 World Environment Day celebration organised by the State Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the Local Government Service Commission and the Nigerian Environmental Society at the State Civil Service Auditorium in Uyo.
Ekpo described the theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” for this year’s celebration as appropriate and timely in view of the emerging trend in the proliferation of plastic waste and its concomitant dangers to the environment.
He said the theme showed a bold attempt at tackling the great threat posed to the world environment by the evolution of plastics.
He stressed that it was also a credible window of opportunity to brainstorm about possible alternatives to the use of plastics in all its forms.
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He said in view of the danger that comes with plastic pollution, there was need to propose a legislative framework that would outlaw all forms of indiscriminate disposal of plastic and other wastes in unauthorized places.
He also advised that all sectoral stakeholders like supermarket and shop operators as well as market traders should be engaged to see the need to switch from the use of plastic shopping bags to the use of recycled paper and bio-degradable bags in order to free the environment of the toxic pollution from the plastic wastes.
He urged the State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to collaborate effectively with the local government system to ensure people’s compliance with environmental laws at the grassroots.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien, observed that the theme for this year’s celebration came with a strong message that aims at encouraging the need to change behaviour towards single-use plastic and substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Dr. Essien noted that dumping plastics in landfills or burning them was a poor management practice because when burning them, they emit toxic gases that are harmful to human health.
The 2018 World Environment Day celebration was graced by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Ekereobong Akpan, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Sir Val Attah, government dignitaries, academia, students, and the public.
