Rights groups and media practitioners have stressed the need to ban single-use plastics immediately through a phased approach.

This was part of the recommendations made at the end of a two-day media capacity building training to address plastic pollution in Nigeria through the understanding of the UN PLASTIC TREATY PROCESS, in Lagos on November 18 and 29.

It was organised by the Pan African Vision for the Environment, PAVE, a member of the Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives, GAIA, and Break Free From Plastics, BFFP, with the support of the Global Greengrants Fund, GGF.

They asked the Federal Government “To ban single-use plastic.

“This should take effect from 2025 as against the current 2028 date as contained in the proposed National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, starting with styrofoam, microbeads and carrier bags, as they have no economic value (recycling) potential.”

They also called for the implementation of “the National Policy on plastic waste management which was adopted and approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and promulgate appropriate regulations on plastic waste management.”

Furthermore, the participants advocated support for the Africa Zero Waste Journalist Network Nigeria Chapter to galvanize journalists for sustained awareness creation on climate change, zero waste, plastics and electric vehicle batteries, among others.

Objectives

The objectives of the workshop were to empower journalists as advocates to understanding the UN PLASTIC TREATY Process in Nigeria; help transform the UN PLASTIC TREATY knowledge into actions for sustainability through knowledge sharing, capacity building and networking in a spirit of partnership based on values and a respect for gender equity, diversity and participatory decision-making.

It was also to facilitate establishment of a network of journalists to further create awareness on the UN Plastics Treaty and its implementation.

The forum brought together over 20 journalists across all media platforms in Nigeria including print, electronic and online to deliberate on addressing plastic pollution in Nigeria and the UN PLASTIC TREATY.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Huub Scheele of the Global Greengrants Fund and a representative of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, Mrs. Oluwakemi Bankole, Deputy Director, Natural Resources Protection Department.

Presentations were made by Anthony Akpan, Executive Director of PAVE, who spoke on ‘The Plastic Age’; Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, RDI, who spoke on ‘The Role of the Media in Reporting Plastic Pollution’, and Victor Fabunmi, Senior Programme Officer, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, SRADev Nigeria, who made a presentation on ‘Emerging Plastic Bans in Africa and Nigeria’.

Vanguard News