World Environment Day: FG Laments Plastic Pollution From Sachet Water Bags
The Federal Government has expressed concern over the proliferation of plastic waste, particularly sachet water bags, littering Nigeria’s streets and contributing to environmental degradation.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made this known during the 2025 World Environment Day commemoration in Abuja on Tuesday, emphasising the need for collective action to address plastic pollution.
“Our cities and rural communities suffer from the burden of unchecked plastic pollution ranging from sachet water bags littering our streets to microplastics entering our food chain and causing public health concerns,” he said.
The minister emphasised the need for collective action to address plastic pollution, a pressing environmental challenge facing Nigeria and the world.
Delivering a keynote address, Lawal highlighted the devastating effects of plastic pollution on the environment, public health, and the economy.
The minister noted that the Federal Government is committed to tackling plastic pollution through the implementation of a National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme.
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are taking decisive steps to address plastic pollution at all levels. The Federal Ministry of Environment has developed and is implementing a National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which provides a strategic framework for reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and encouraging innovation in alternatives to single-use plastics.
“We are also supporting innovative circular economy models to drive recycling and promote plastic alternatives, especially across government ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.
Lawal urged Nigerians to make conscious choices to reduce plastic waste and become ambassadors of environmental stewardship, emphasizing that the fight against plastic pollution requires a people-oriented movement.
“Together, let us work toward a Nigeria where our waterways are clean, our streets are free of plastic waste, and our ecosystems are protected for generations to come. I thank everyone for coming and for being a part of this historic event,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the ministry’s development partners, especially the ECOWAS Commission, which has been a steadfast partner in environmental governance, climate change response, and sustainable development across the West African sub-region.
Delivering a good will message, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandje Toure-Litse, has emphasised the need for a coordinated regional response to address plastic pollution in West Africa.
“There is growing recognition that plastic pollution is a transboundary problem that requires a coordinated regional response,” Toure-Litse said.
Represented by the Acting Director, Environment and Natural Resources, Yao Bernard Koffi, Toure-Litse noted that the region produces nearly 8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, with over 80 percent poorly managed.
She highlighted ECOWAS’ adoption of a regional regulation on plastic management in 2023 and urged member states to harmonize laws and implement best practices.
The commissioner called on stakeholders to invest in eco-innovation, support community-led waste efforts, and enforce environmental laws.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “Ending Plastic Pollution”.
World Environment Day: FG Laments Plastic Pollution From Sachet Water Bags is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
