THE Federal Government yesterday banned single-use plastics in all ministries, departments, and government entities.
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, announced this while briefing reporters at the Presidential Villa following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting headed by President Bola Tinubu in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
“If you look at the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management which was adopted in 2020, it envisages that by January 2025, some categories of plastics will be banned in Nigeria and most of them are single-use, plastic spoons, straws, pet bottles, water sachets and so on.
“What the Federal Government is doing is preparing the minds of Nigerians and leading by example,” the minister said.
Salako noted that the prohibition was consistent with the government’s commitment to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic waste, all of which have become serious issues in the country.
The minister stated that plastic debris frequently clogs drains and causes flooding, as well as polluting the oceans, causing harm to human health and the ecosystem.
Recall that in January, the Lagos State Government had prohibited single-use plastics and Styrofoam throughout the state.