Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Environment has begun a move to eradicate single-use plastics in the country.
The decision was made at a two-day ministerial/top management retreat organised by the ministry in Kaduna on Saturday.
The retreat, with the theme, ‘Policy Embedment and Synergy of Prioritised Action for a Renewed Hope in Environmental Management,’ was organised for directors, heads of agencies, programmes and special projects of the ministry.
According to a communique issued at the end of the retreat, a “Circular Nigeria Committee” was set up to facilitate the implementation of the country’s circular economy roadmap.
The committee, chaired by the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would also pursue gradual discontinuation of the use of single-use plastic in the country, starting from the ministry and its agencies.
The communique signed by Director Planning Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mallam Stanley Jonah, said that the “Circular Nigeria Committee” would ensure sustainable waste management and facilitate the implementation of the circular economy roadmap.
It stated that the committee would “prioritise mentorship, institutional knowledge transfer and effective succession plan.
“The retreat also agreed to discontinue the use of single-use plastic within the Federal Ministry of Environment and its agencies to drive a culture of waste reduction.
“In addition, staff of the ministry and its agencies were requested to demonstrate leadership by example by implementing other personal climate actions in their environment.
“Procurement plans shall be completed early and submitted to the relevant agencies of government to ensure timely release of funds.”
It also “emphasised the need for reinforcement of the forest guards in line with the vision of Mr. President to rid our forests of bandits.”
