Olalekan Akinola
Drastic action against indiscriminate disposal of wastes, particularly plastic materials in Lagos and other parts of the country, is well over due, the National Coalition Against Plastic Pollution (NCAPP) has said.
The Coalition, in a press statement made signed and available to newsmen over the weekend by Ambassador Obuesi Phillips, NCAPP’s national coordinator, and the Coalition’s national Secretary, Toyin Oshaniwa, as well as Taiwo Adewole, it’s publicity Secretary, stated that, this follows the recent massive rainfall in Lagos, which exposed what it called “the dirty underbelly of our metropolitan Lagos, while making a mockery of the state’s advancement towards a mega city status.”
However, NCAPP expressed deep concern following media reports and photos of a garbage-filled neighborhood of Akobi Crescent, Surulere, Lagos.
The statement reads in bit; “We are concerned because half the problem is man-made, caused by Lagosians following our illicit and unsustainable domestic waste disposal lifestyles.
“From Lekki to Ikeja, to Surulere, Apapa, Lagos Island, Amuwo Odofin, Ajegunle to even Iyana-Oworo and everywhere across the city of Lagos, the story is the same – overflowing canals, flooded streets and highways with floating plastic waste.
“As a coalition, NCAPP knows for certain that there is nothing we can do about the fact that Lagos State is below sea level.
“The implication is that the city of Lagos will continue to experience massive flooding. Why we are Lucky in Lagos State is because most of the flood are flash floods which disappeared after hours of rain fail.
“There is a lot we can do about our attitude and unsustainable waste management and disposal lifestyles in controlling the occurrences.
The statement continued; “Plastic (Styrofoam Polystyrene, nylons bags, polythene, PET, etc.) waste management is a critical area that producers and related companies must make a series of major strategic plan of action or engagement.
“Sustainable plastic waste management will create value from end to end around the sector thus improving livelihoods, and reducing the pressure on the urban environment.
“NCAPP is now committing greater attention to citizens centered awareness, advocacy and campaigns in three different directions: “A call on the government of Lagos State to derive the process of formulating innovative and adaptive policy and roadmap aimed at curtailing the excesses and demanding producers of plastic waste accountable for the waste they produce; A call on manufacturers of food and beverages especially those using plastics to begin to active the extended producer responsibility principle when it comes to plastic packaging and littering; and A call on the government of Lagos state to leverage on the PPP model for multi-approach system that provide an enabling environment for regional plastic waste collection centers within the state.
The statement further stated that,”It’s in the light of the above that NCAPP is now calling for a rethinking, reimagining and confronting the future of plastic waste pollution in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State.”
