Nigeria Launches Policy Framework to Combat Marine Litter

On Thursday, the Federal Ministry of Environment convened a workshop in Abuja to discuss a new policy framework aimed at combating marine litter in Nigeria. The workshop, organized in collaboration with Protego and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, brought together environmental experts and stakeholders to address the long-standing structural financing gaps in the country's waste management system.

Falmata Bukar Kolo, Deputy Director of Solid Waste Management Technology Division, emphasized the severe consequences of plastic pollution on aquatic ecosystems and human health, noting that microplastics enter the food chain and contaminate water and soil. The policy brief proposes harmonizing institutional mandates among various agencies, establishing a unified inter-agency coordination framework, and extending producer responsibility requirements for manufacturers.

The workshop concluded with stakeholders formally endorsing the policy brief, which aims for implementation between 2025 and 2040.