The Executive Director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative, Phillip Jakpor has warned that plastic pollution in Nigeria poses a grave threat to public health, economic growth, and the country’s tourism industry.
Speaking on the 2025 World Environment Day, which holds 5th of June every year, he called for urgent government action, stronger legal frameworks, and public incentives to promote biodegradable alternatives.
“We operate from Lagos and the Niger Delta, and our focus areas include environmental issues, climate change, and public health. Plastic pollution affects every facet of life from our waterways to our food system and even our healthcare infrastructure.”
Plastic Production vs Public Health
Jakpor described Nigeria’s current industrial model as “profit-driven,” with plastic producers benefiting while the public pays the price. “Plastics come from fossil fuel extraction. So, the more plastics we use, the more we drill, flare gas, and worsen the climate crisis,” he said.
He noted that fish caught in Nigerian waters often contain plastics, posing serious food safety risks. “When whales and other fish are caught and examined, they’re often found with plastics inside them. Human consumption of fish with microplastics is becoming dangerously common,” he warned.
Plastic packaging, especially in bottled water, is also a health risk. “Sometimes, bottled water tastes like plastic. That’s because of the leaching caused by temperature shifts. We’re slowly ingesting plastic, and this will have long-term health implications, including cancer,” he added.
Plastic Waste Damaging Nigeria’s Global Image
Jakpor stressed that plastic waste is also affecting tourism. “Tourists prefer clean cities. When people go to places like Rwanda, they marvel at the cleanliness. Nigeria, with its plastic-choked gutters and streets, sends the wrong message,” he said.
He described Lagos State’s recent ban on styrofoam and plastic as a policy that “looks good on paper but lacks proper execution.” According to him, the ban paradoxically encourages people to buy plastic bags at higher prices, which he argues enriches producers rather than discourages use.
“The same shopping malls now sell plastic or paper bags for ₦150 to ₦200. This perpetuates the plastic culture instead of eliminating it,” he said.
Legal Frameworks in Place, But Implementation Lags
Nigeria has several environmental laws, including the National Policy on Plastic Waste and the Harmful Waste Act, established after the 1987 Koko toxic waste incident. Yet, Djapor argues these frameworks are ineffective in practice.
“They exist only on paper. There’s no serious implementation. The Lagos policy, for example, was poorly thought out. It was optics not backed by preparedness or alternatives,” he said.
He praised countries like Rwanda and Finland for their effective enforcement of anti-plastic policies. “In Finland, households sort their waste into designated bins, and the government pays them for recyclables. Even children are trained to dispose of waste correctly,” Jakpor shared.
Economic Incentives: The Way Forward
To curb plastic waste, recommended a “carrot-and-stick” policy: incentivizing biodegradable production while taxing plastic manufacturers. “We need to support companies that make biodegradable products and heavily tax those who make plastics. That’s what Rwanda has done, and it’s working,” he said.
He stressed the importance of training and environmental awareness from a young age. “We need to catch them young. Kids should grow up knowing the importance of sorting and reducing waste. It starts from the home,” Jakpor added.
Call to Action
Philip Jakpor called on the Nigerian government to make environmental reform a priority ahead of World Environment Day. “This is not just about pollution; it’s about health, our economy, and our global image. We must act now,” he urged.