The Lagos State government (LASG) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have pushed for more awareness of the dangers and need to end plastic pollution in the state.
The call to end plastic pollution was the major focus at the 2023 Walk for Nature organised and held recently by the LASG and NCF in Lagos.
Joseph Onoja, director general, NCF disclosed that the Walk for Nature was hosted in collaboration with LASG through the Ministry of Environment.
“This year’s theme focused on solutions to plastic pollution. When plastic was discovered, it was a game changer but it’s been known now that it’s a major issue to both terrestrial and aquatic environments affecting humans,” Onoja said.
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Speaking on the solutions, he said there is a need to stop single-use plastic.
We need to find a way of recycling all our plastics. We need to stop using plastics but if we cannot stop it, then we reuse it or use it for other things that we can. We call on Nigerians with innovative ideas to also join us to change the use and end this pollution.
According to him, If proper action is not taken, Nigeria may have more plastic pollution in the waters than fish, stating that the initiative of the government and NCF aims to bring solutions through awareness to tackle these challenges.
Mojeed Balogun, chairman of Ikeja local government emphasized the need for public-private partnership to end plastic pollution.
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He said, ” The government cannot do it alone and when the private is coming in, it thinks it is a welcome development for them to participate as a social responsibility too. Proper waste management is a way for us to conserve our waste in a way that not all materials should be wasted, especially plastic. When you send them to our drainages, it becomes a threat to our aquatics.”
The annual event which is approaching its second decade also brings different organisations and sectors of the country to discuss possible solutions to environmental conservation.
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