By Idu Jude, Abuja
The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor, says producers in the plastic and plastic packaging sector must subscribe to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) programme to eradicate plastic pollution in the country.
Dr. Barikor spoke through the Assistant Director of Plastic Pollution Control, Engineer Chukwudi, who made the statement as officials of the agency continued a tour of plastic and plastic packaging companies in Lagos under the project, “Accelerating a Circular Plastic Economy to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Its Impacts in the African Region and Its Countries,” with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The DG disclosed that the tour, which is being carried out in Kano, Lagos, and Ogun States, was part of the activities towards the development of an enforcement plan for the EPR programme and plastic regulations in Nigeria. He said, “We want to assess stakeholders’ understanding of the EPR implementation, get firsthand information on plastic pollution management strategies in the respective states, and evaluate plastic packaging producers’ knowledge of their obligations, including the formation and subscription to producer responsibility organisations (PROs).”
Dr. Barikor urged producers to support the implementation of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) in their respective sectors as a measure to reduce waste in line with the circular economy, boost employment opportunities, and promote a sustainable environment for all Nigerians.