The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has advocated the use of a minimum of three waste bins in all homes to ease separation and recycling process.
The SGF made the call at the public presentation of a book “Recycling in Nigeria” written by Terseer Ugbor, member, House of Representatives and deputy chairman, Committee on Environment in Abuja on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Senator Akume, represented by his Chief of Staff, Christopher Tarka, stressed that waste management is a big business that has been overlooked, adding that recycled market products are readily available everywhere.
He said: “By the time we go through this book we will see enormous business opportunities embedded in it.”
Speaker, House of Representative, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Terlunmo Seskaa, said the book is written as a motivation for people of all ages to go into the business of waste management.
Former Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, described the book as one that offers essential guidance of recycling business in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government has taken significant steps to reduce waste and create jobs, it underscores the importance of proper waste management, and it aligns with Federal Government’s plan on environmental sustainability,” she said.
Earlier in his address, the author, Ugbor, harped on the need to educate young Nigerians on the need to maintain a clean society that could also put money in their pocket.
The federal lawmaker representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in Benue State said it is appalling to observe that many Nigerians are not taking advantage of the huge opportunities embedded in waste management and recycling.
“It is high time Nigerians knew more about recycling, waste management and waste-to-wealth, including plastics, tyres, e-waste, metal waste, papers, and waste oil, among others. This helps to kick-start the culture of recycling in Nigeria and educate young people on the practice and how they can make a livelihood from it.
“There is a huge potential in the sector and we need to get more people involved to boost employment opportunities. Nigeria generates several thousands of wastes every day, and these wastes have a lot of value and resources that can be recovered from proper recycling. The job opportunities are enormous and the energy potential is there for entrepreneurs,” he stated.
He said the National Assembly had recently proposed amendments to several laws on recycling in the country.
Ugbor also identified the policy of Extended Producers’ Responsibility that ensures every manufactured product in the country passes through a waste recycling process as one such effort.
“At the National Assembly, we have proposed a bill called the EPR Act to mainstream and ensure that all manufacturing companies, commercial enterprises and individuals in the country take responsibility for the waste we throw away in our daily activities.
“To achieve this, the Ministry of Environment and NESREA launched the EPR survey where every manufacturer, importer and individual who produces or uses a product that becomes waste must take responsibility throughout the entire life cycle of that particular product.”
