The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has tasked Nigerians on collaboration to beat plastic pollution.

The national executive council chairman, NCF, Bukola Adebiyi, made this known at the NCF Annual Green Ball 2025 in Lagos.

Describing plastic pollution as a serious menace that must be checked, she said, “Globally, about 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year. Daily plastic waste is estimated to be about 1.1 million tonnes per day.

“This is with roughly 50 per cent being mismanaged and about one to two million tonnes entering our oceans yearly.

“Lagos generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, out of which 15 to 20 per cent is plastic. We are enjoined to please join hands together to tackle this problem.”

Ms Adebiyi added that advocacy was the first step for people so that they could be educated.

“This will drastically reduce; you’ll be surprised by the amount of plastic bottles you generate just from drinking plastic-bottled water in your homes.

“We need to sort our waste, recycle, and bear in mind that recycling is not a permanent solution because not all plastics are actually recyclable and the cost of recycling is high.

“In our environment, particularly in Lagos, we don’t have enough companies that can recycle or who do recycle, so that is also a problem,” she said.

Ms Adebiyi, who said recycling was not a solution, added that it could only help if wastes were being sorted.

She advised Nigerians, especially Lagosians, to buy items in bulk and decant them into reusable glass containers.

“At NCF, we are committed to fighting this scourge, amongst other environmental threats.

“Please join us to stem this serious threat of plastic pollution, which, if left unchecked, is likely to overrun us.

“With all this in mind, let us continue to build on the legacy and principles which NCF represents as laid down by our founding fathers, which is encapsulated in our slogan for nature, for people, for Nigeria,” she said.

The chairperson, Business Development Committee, NCF, Dame Fatayi-Williams, while speaking with journalists, said the sooner everyone faced the reality of climate change and its problems, the better.

She added that the Global South had less to contribute to climate change than the Global North.

The NCF director-general, Joseph Onoja, stated that the annual Green Ball was used to raise awareness and seek support for environmental issues.

Mr Onoja said that NCF could not do it alone, hence the gathering of all its partners, while calling for more people to join in working for nature and the environment. 

(NAN)