- FG, Japan and UNIDO sign an agreement for plastic waste management.
- Japan and Unido will provide $2.8 million to support the development of a circular economy for the plastic sector.
- Nigeria dumps about 200,000 tons of plastic waste annually.
Nigeria’s federal government is set to develop projects that will improve the circular economy in the plastics sector. The projects will get funded by Japan and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Both parties will provide about 319 million yen ($2.8 million). Both organisations provided the funding after Nigeria joined the “marine initiative” launched by Japan to support the G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision. The Blue Vision aims to reduce plastic waste pollution to zero by 2050 globally. The programme plans to do this via the development of a life cycle approach.
The Nigerian government plans to develop guidelines for implementing sustainable plastic waste management projects at the national and state levels. The strengthening of recycling value chains in selected municipalities in Lagos and Abuja and the technology demonstration of circular economy and resource efficiency practices are ways via which the government plans to achieve this.
Nigeria also plans to work with the platform to raise awareness among businesses and consumers on sustainable plastic waste management practices. The World Economic Forum noted that in 2018 Nigeria’s ocean plastic waste was about 200,000 annually. This new partnership is a step towards ensuring that GPAP’s vision of 523,000 tons of plastic waste is avoided annually by the end of this year.