2025 World Environment Day: Nigeria Discharges Over 200,000 Tons of Plastic Waste into Atlantic Ocean Annually, Says Expert

AmbyUnezein Owerri

An expert in the field of environmental awareness and consciousness, Mr. Jude NnamdiNwakanma, a lawyer, has revealed that Nigeria discharges over 200,000 tons of plastic waste into the Atlantic Ocean annually, according to the world economy forum, while generating 2.5 metric tons of plastic waste yearly.

According to him, about 60 million water sachets are discharged into Lagos streets alone on a daily basis, while other major cities in the country generate much more considering the large population of the country.

He noted the country fails to recycle over 88 percent of its plastic waste which poses dangerous environmental pollution.

Nwakanma, who was the keynote speaker on the occasion of the 2025 World Environment Day celebration held at the Auditorium of Imo State University, Owerri, in a paper titled “Surviving Plastic Pollution: Harnessing the Leverage of Statutory Intervention”, described plastic waste as an accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the environment.

He added that water sachets, pet bottles, styrofoam food containers, plastic bags, straws, plastic cutleries, etc form the major plastic waste that pollute the environment.

He maintained that major causes of pollution include poor waste management, lack of recycling, low public awareness of waste management as these cause huge global concern as major threat to human health, contribute to climate change, non- biodegradable, threat to both wildlife and marine life, contains additives like BPA that disrupts the ecosystem and human hormone system.

The keynote speaker observed that though efforts by the government to curtail the rate of plastic pollution through legislations including; passage of plastic bags prohibition bill of 2019 by the House of Representatives and the ban of single use plastics in federal government offices – January 2024 to extend nationwide January, 2025 had not made any impact.

He identified some challenges facing government intervention to curb the plastic pollution such as; no backing of law, problem of enforceability, uncertainty, lobbyists, and susceptible to political manipulation, noting that such government agencies like, Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) Act of1988, Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIA) 1992, National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Environmental (sanitation and waste control) regulations of 2009, and National Environmental (plastic, synthetics and nylons) regulations of 2011are merely there to answer names only.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. UchefuleChukwumaeze (SAN) expressed satisfaction over the institution’s annual celebration of the World Environment Day, adding that environment remains key to his administration as he is committed to the realization of its motto of excellence and service which clean environment is part of it.

The VC who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Kennedy Okorie commended the initiator of this year’s world environment day celebration and Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof Patricia Duru for sustaining the age-long tradition of major producer of manpower in the “Built Environment”.

Speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Duru noted that the faculty had remained at the forefront of environmental advocacy over the years and thanked the vice chancellor for making this year’s celebration remarkable, while noting that the “build environment” could be defaced by plastics pollution which affect humans inhabiting the desired environment.

The major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of environmental awards to some deserving personalities, such as former governor of Imo State, Dr. IkediOhakim, who introduced the ‘clean and green initiative’ to the State, former ASUU president and former acting vice chancellor of Imo State university, Prof. Aloysius Awuzie, former head of service, Imo State, Barr. Raymond Ucheoma, the grand president of Knight of St. John International of Owerri Grand, Dr. Moses Ajeka and a former Vice chancellor of the university, Prof. B.E.B. Nwoko.