Stakeholders in waste management, and environmental experts, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to invest in waste recycling management, especially plastics recovery towards growing a circular economy of the country.
The waste management professionals and development experts included: Ambassador Obuesi Phillips, President/CEO, Lagos Waste Forum, Mr. Ola Oresanya, former Ogun state Environment commissioner, Mrs. Belinda Aderonike Odeneye, Board Chairperson, Lagos waste Forum, Mrs. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca Cola, Dr. Essien Nsuabia, Director-Circular Economy, LAWMA, Dr. Vanessa Lerato Phala, Director, ILO, Country for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison office for ECOWAS, among others.
They spoke at the fourth edition of Lagos Waste Forum in Alausa, Ikeja, submitting that Nigerians were yet to unlock the huge potential in the sector.
Speaking at the occasion, Obuesi Phillips, in his opening remarks harped on the ongoing transition from a traditional linear economy to a more sustainable circular economy to investigate the harsh realities of climate change due to pollution.
Said Phillips “Because we have a shared future, it is now urgently necessary to collectively control pollution through waste management.
” But how do we control pollution and by extension manage waste if there is no collective investment in adaptation and mitigation?
“Open conversations, information, and resource sharing, as well as sustained advocacy are necessary fertile grounds to drive anticipated investments in pollution control”.
Also, Development expert, and former Commissioner for Environment, Ogun State, Mr. Oresanya, said that Nigerians were yet to unlock the economic potential in plastic waste recycling.
He noted that Nigerians had been travelling outside the country in search of greener pastures while abandoning huge opportunities in plastic recycling, saying that in Ogun State alone, there are a lot of companies which are into plastic recycling manned by Asians, regretting that some Nigerians were merely waste collectors.
Said Oressnya “Asians have taken over recycling in the country whereas our youths are going out in search of jobs.
“In Ogun State alone, there are so many recycling plants which recycle at least 1000 times of waste daily.
“These are done by Asians who have mastered the art over the years with competence.
“Some Nigerians are just comfortable with being collectors,”.
He harped on the need to increase incentives and the effect of weak regulatory agencies in the management of the sector.
Also, Onyemelukwe in her presentation spoke on the need for citizens to buy into waste management and leverage the huge opportunities to create wealth.
She said adopting sustainable and inclusive waste management practices by individuals and corporate businesses would create healthier and more resilient communities.
Mrs. Onyemelukwe said her company is deeply entrenched in curtailing plastic waste, revealing Coca-Cola’s long-term plan in this regard, while commending Lagos Wastes Forum for always being in the forefront of ridding the environment of plastic waste.
She alluded to the fact that her company has done appreciably well in assisting those in the industry value chain in actualizing their dreams in waste collection, adding that although more ground was still to be covered, “We are not where we supposed to be, We would get there someday
While commending the SWEEP Foundation, Stephen Agugue of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), who represented Phala said the program was timely.
“Given the situation in the world now, this is a worthwhile enlightenment on the need to secure the environment through waste management,” he said.
On his own, Dr. Essien Nsuabia said the issue of recycling and waste management is one his agency isn’t taking lightly while commending Lagos Waste Forum for the event.
Mrs. Belinda Aderonke Odeneye while calling for attitudes and habits that would sustain the environment, thanked the speakers for their insights into ways of preserving the environment and said at Lagos Waste Forum, that the emphasis would always be the protection of the environment through effective waste management.
Five organisations namely: Plastibuild Creative Solutions, Trashcoin, a digital recycling technology, Recyledge, Association of Carbon and Waste Recycling Dealers of Nigeria and Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos State (ASWOL) were presented with Awards for standing tall on competence in waste reduction, management and sustainability.
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