The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, called on residents of the state to collaborate with the government to ensure a sustainable solution to plastic pollution in the state.
The governor said such collaboration would help the state to achieve its target of protecting the environment which, according to him, is a common heritage.
Speaking at the 2023 World Environment Day held in Alausa on Monday, Sanwo-Olu noted that about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually in Nigeria, which include the daily production of about 60 million sachet water bags and single-use shopping bags, adding that the situation may worsen as the population grows from 220 million to the projected 401 million by the end of 2050.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Nurudeen Shodeinde, the governor noted that Lagos generates about 870,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, constituting about 15 per cent of the total waste generated in the state.
He, however, said his government was making efforts to make the state cleaner by launching the first community recyclable management programme in Ifako-Ijaye in March 2023.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mr Gaji Omobolaji, represented by the Director, Environmental Education, Mrs Monsurat Banire, said, “We advocate multiple-use plastics, encourage and promote recycling through ‘Reduce, Reuse & Recycle’ and ‘Buy-back’ initiatives.”
