The Federal Government, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO and Japan have signed a treaty to encourage sustainable plastic value chain through circular economy practices.
Minister of State for Environment Sharon Ikeazor at the signing
ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU in Abuja, said
the project would address plastic pollution in Nigeria. She noted that the
project is timely as the global community is making concerted efforts in
developing an international instrument to address plastic pollution
holistically and sustainably.
The Minister said these unwholesome practices have been linked to the
perennial flooding across the country, increased respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases, increased incidences of cancer, loss of aquatic
life, among others.
On his part, an environmental expert in UNIDO Regional Office, in a
presentation Oluyomi Banjo, said plastic litter was a major global
environmental problem which had rapidly increased. He noted that
plastics originated mostly from land but also released into the marine
environment and can affect the ecosystem and blue economy.
