The Wild Africa Fund on Monday launched a month-long campaign to raise awareness about the threats of plastic pollution and its impact on oceans and marine life.
The campaign is part of activities to mark the 2023 World Environment Day celebrated across the globe to reflect the impact of human activities on the environment while encouraging renewed public commitment to protecting the earth.
Nigeria Representative at Wild Africa Fund, Festus Iyorah says Plastic pollution is a huge and widespread problem in Nigeria as single-use plastic has become part of the people’s daily lives. Yet, its constant use and accumulation as waste is damaging the environment, ocean and marine species, such as sea turtles.
Statistics from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) show that the world produces about 400 million tons of plastics per year. Of that, only less than 10 per cent is recycled.
In Nigeria, 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year and 88 percent of these plastics are not recycled. As a result, they end up in waterways, dams, lagoons, and the ocean affecting marine habitats and the aquatic species that call the ocean home.
Peter Knights, OBE, Founder, Wild Africa Fund however says with political will and public participation, Nigeria could be a regional leader in reducing plastic usage and moving from indiscriminate dumping to recycling or safe disposal of plastic waste.
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, represents an urgent call for the world to reduce plastic waste while finding local solutions to the damages caused by plastic pollution to the environment and wildlife.
