From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Federal Government, yesterday said that Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, generates about 1.5 million tones of plastic waste every year.
Out of this figure, less than 10 per cent is recycled.
Speaking at the unveiling of the gap analysis report of the solid management sector in Nigeria, data base user guide manual and national roadmap on solid waste management in Nigeria, Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said that the problem of pollution in the country is exacerbated by inadequate waste management infrastructure, poor behavioural attitude, unskilled waste collection workforce, indiscriminate dumping and burning of plastic wastes, poor awareness, inadequate funding etc.
“It is against this background that we welcome this technical assistance to support the Federal Management Framework on Solid Waste. The technical assistance is part of a series of actions being undertaken by government to address the challenges of solid waste in the country in a holistic and sustainable manner, particularly in our quest for alternatives to drive investment in the right direction and support sustainable development objectives to which Nigeria subscribes” he said.
In her remarks, the French ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Emmanuella Blatmann said that Nigeria and France have a long-standing partnership and France would continue support the Ministry of Environment to achieve a green environment.