Nigeria’s ranking is the 9th largest contributor to ocean plastics globally, it has been revealed.
The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), a non-governmental organisation(NGO), revealed this on Thursday.
MAJI’s Executive Director, Mr Onyekachi Okoro, revealed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Port Harcourt in commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day.
The NGO has called on the Nigerian government, communities, companies, and regulatory bodies to take immediate action to regulate and reduce plastic waste generation.
It said effective implementation of this action would improve waste management systems nationwide.
The theme of the conference was “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
He therefore emphasised the need for urgent measures to curb plastic waste, especially in the Niger Delta region, which continued to experience rising pollution levels.
“The country currently lacks adequate manpower, technology, and strategies to enforce proper waste management policies across the states,” he noted.
According to the United Nations Secretary-General in October 2024, over 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced annually, with a significant portion breaking down into microplastics that contaminate food and water sources.
Okoro also referenced alarming predictions from the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, which warned that by 2050, plastics in the oceans might outnumber fish.
In response to these concerns, MAJI proposed several actionable recommendations to include, declaration of indiscriminate plastic waste dumping as illegal, with strict penalties for offenders.
“Establishment of plastic collection and waste management centers across the country, creation of incentives for recycling companies and environmental groups.
“The launch of collaborative awareness campaigns using community platforms and local languages to reach grassroots populations and the domestication of legal frameworks to regulate plastic importation and promote environmental compliance.”
Okoro stressed the devastating effects of plastic pollution on marine biodiversity, animal health, and human well-being, urging all stakeholders to respond with urgency.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Boma Amadi, Assistant Director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Rivers, affirmed the agency’s commitment to public education on proper plastic waste disposal.
“With our presence in all 23 local government areas of Rivers, we have been able to reach grassroots communities with information on sorting, recycling, and packaging,” she said.
Amadi highlighted the agency’s focus on raising awareness about the health risks of plastic pollution, including the infiltration of harmful enzymes into water bodies and threats to marine life.
