The Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ban of Single-Use Plastics, marking a decisive step toward environmental sustainability and improved waste management across the country.
The committee is tasked with driving national policy coordination, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and steering Nigeria’s transition away from environmentally harmful plastic products.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented by Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, said the initiative underscores Nigeria’s commitment to meeting global environmental and climate action standards.
He emphasized that eliminating single-use plastics is not merely a regulatory issue but a crucial public health and environmental priority. “Curbing single-use plastics is vital to reducing pollution that endangers public health, ecosystems, and marine life,” he noted.
The committee’s formation follows growing global concern over the devastating impact of plastics on waterways, food chains, and the natural environment. In Nigeria, where plastic waste clogs drainage systems and contributes to urban flooding, the move signals renewed political will to tackle one of the nation’s most persistent environmental challenges.
Environmental experts have lauded the development, describing it as a significant step toward a cleaner and greener Nigeria. The committee is expected to develop actionable timelines and coordinate with state governments, private sector actors, and civil society to ensure smooth implementation of the ban.
With this move, Nigeria joins a growing list of countries taking bold actions to phase out single-use plastics in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 on climate action and Goal 14 on life below water.
