Celebrating World Environment Day: Nigeria’s Fight for a Greener Future

This year, World Environment Day highlights a crucial issue for Nigeria: plastic pollution. The theme for 2025, #BeatPlasticPollution, captures the urgency of the situation. Plastic waste has made its way into our water, food, and even our bodies. It’s a global challenge that affects cities, rural areas, and marine life alike.

Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal underlined the need for immediate action. He pointed out that plastic waste harms ecosystems and human health. Combined with rapid population growth and other challenges, these issues demand urgent solutions.

Research shows that plastic pollution is a significant contributor to climate change. The International Organisation for Migration reports that plastic waste clogs waterways, contaminates soil, and disrupts habitats, often forcing communities to relocate.

Recent statistics show the staggering scale of this problem. Globally, 500 billion plastic bags are used each year, and 13 million tonnes of plastic find their way into oceans annually. In 2021, an estimated one million plastic bottles were sold every minute. Alarmingly, microplastics—tiny pieces resulting from the breakdown of plastics—are now found in our water and even in our bodies.

In Nigeria, the consequences are severe. The country faces flooding, drought, and pollution, alongside poor waste management. For example, heavy rainfall caused devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State this past May, resulting in over 200 deaths and destruction of homes.

Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, highlighted how these environmental challenges disproportionately affect women and children, further complicating issues like food security.

In 2021, Nigeria introduced the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (NPPWM) to tackle plastic waste more effectively. Unfortunately, actual implementation has been weak. Individual efforts are admirable, but state initiatives like those in Lagos and Ekiti—where bans on single-use plastics have been enacted—are rare.

The House of Representatives has passed only a small percentage of bills focused on the environment. However, Hon. Akin Rotimi has noted the need for stronger regulations to address single-use plastics.

As we mark World Environment Day, it’s time for Nigeria to engage actively in the global fight against plastic pollution. We need more than just words. To create meaningful change, we must focus on genuine policy enforcement and promote a culture of environmental responsibility.

For more on the impact of plastic on the environment, the United Nations offers extensive resources on this pressing issue.



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