FG inaugurates c’ttee to enforce ban on single-use plastics

Federal Government has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ban of Single-Use Plastics SUPs, in what it described as a major stride towards environmental sustainability and reforming waste management practices across the country. Speaking at the inauguration on Monday in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary overseeing the General Services Office, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, said the ban on single-use plastics was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to global environmental standards and its determination to combat plastic pollution threatening public health, ecosystems and marine life.

Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen disclosed this in a statement issued Monday in Abuja. Akume recalled that the decision stemmed from a Federal Executive Council FEC memorandum presented by the Minister of Environment on June 25, 2024. He said the FEC approved the nationwide ban on items such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, styrofoam, plastic bags, sachet water packs, and straws – materials that have become serious environmental sanitation challenges.

He said that the indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes was a major cause of marine pollution and land degradation, noting that such materials take decades to decompose, thereby endangering wildlife and human health through the release of toxic chemicals. The newly inaugurated committee, which comprises representatives from key ministries, departments, agencies, and stakeholder organisations, is mandated to coordinate and oversee the implementation of policies and strategies aimed at phasing out single-use plastics nationwide.

Among its terms of reference are investigating issues surrounding single-use plastics, assessing the benefits and broader implications of the ban, and recommending sustainable practices for promoting environmental responsibility within the plastic value chain. The SGF noted that the move underscored Nigeria’s leadership in environmental stewardship and its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.