SHUKROH BUSARI
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, has announced plans to establish recycling plans in each of the 774 Local Government areas of the country as an effort to promote a circular economy.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Dr Salako disclosed this at the Chemicals and Users Workshop held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to him, the Ministry is taking proactive measures to promote sound circular economy principles and practices in the country, including putting in place a national plastic waste recycling programme aimed at establishing at least one plastic recycling plant in each of the 774 Local Government areas in Nigeria.
Hence, he identified inadequate policy, legal, and regulatory framework, insufficient funds dedicated to promoting the concept, inadequate and unaffordable recycling technologies, dearth of information on alternatives, low-level public awareness, and inadequate data, as part of several obstacles to the implementation of a circular economy in Nigeria.
On the other hand, Salako said the government would put in place a community-based waste management programme that encourages the involvement of local communities in modern waste management practices such as waste sorting, segregation, composting, and recycling.
He said, “Despite these challenges, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is resolute in achieving a clean circular and buoyant economy for the nation and therefore, my ministry, the Federal Ministry of Environment, as part of its deliverables under the 8 presidential priority areas is expected to commence the full implementation of the circular economy roadmap for the country this 2024”.