. Projects Nigeria to become largest plastic producer by 2025
By Mellody Fidelis
The Lagos State Government partners the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to advocate and deepen the value chain in a circular economy, it reveals that the state loses $7 billion annually.
This is just as Nigeria is projected to become largest producer of plastic waste by 2025
The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dolapo Fasawe, said this at a circular economy workshop on Tuesday in Lagos.
Ms Fasawe said a study by the World Bank a few years ago disclosed that Lagos was losing about $7 billion annually for not embracing a circular economy.
She said: “We are losing $7 billion annually, and the essence of this conference is to invite investors and people to join us in this advocacy for recycling, reusing and creating industries, jobs, and, more importantly, a cleaner environment.
“You will not see these plastics on the road again if we put this approach of the circular economy on plastic waste.”
She said the partnership targeted a paradigm shift from a linear to a circular economy, adding that the workshop was in partnership with UNIDO, Lagos state and the federal government.
…the essence of this conference is to invite investors and people to join us in this advocacy for recycling, reusing and creating industries, jobs, and, more importantly, a cleaner environment.
Largest plastic producer
Fasawe said the circular economy advocacy involves sensitising the public to the benefits of plastic waste.
“The truth is Nigeria, by 2025, will be the largest producer of plastic waste. We need to step up our activities in recycling and the circular economy. Once plastic is used, it should not just be deposited anywhere.
“It can be reused, recycled, and reduced to something else. This is because plastic is not degradable. And when we say economics and plastic, it means that there’s a lot of money that can be made out of plastic waste.”
The UNIDO National Programme Coordinator, Oluyomi Banjo, said the agency was pleased to work with Lagos, one of the biggest cities in Africa, to tackle plastic waste by investing in the circular economy.
He noted that achieving a circular economy in Lagos is important because it would set the stage for other states in Nigeria and other regions in Africa, and can be achieved through the development of a plastic action plan.
“We will bring everybody together to sensitise them on what a circular economy is all about; the benefits to the environment, socially and economically. We will work with the private sector to be more productive and efficient to make more profit,” explained Banjo.
He also said UNIDO plans “to see how we can incorporate them in achieving this, knowing that we cannot achieve this without the informal sector.”
The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni, said the state government has done a lot in promoting the reuse and recycling of plastics.
He revealed that LAWMA was partnering with Polysmart, one of Africa’s largest plastic recyclers, to convert tonnes of plastic waste into reusable products.
He said the Authority is enforcing the policy of adopt-a-bin in Lagos to teach the value of waste separation at source, adding that LASEPA, LAWMA and other agencies have banned single use of plastics in their offices to lead by example. (NAN)
