The Federal Government has moved to ensure that the ban on single use plastics in its Ministries, Departments and Agencies nationwide is enforced with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement (NESREA) sensitizing Management and Staff on the policy.
The sensitization workshop which was organized with the support of the European Union also had in attendance support staff of the agency including the janitors and the security men held on Wednesday in Abuja
Addressing the participants through the agency’s Director in charge of Inspection and Enforcement, Mr. Abdulsalam Isa, the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor said the ban was part of the effort by the federal government to address the menace of plastic pollution and the determination to promote effective policies on public health, environmental sustainability, and protection of the ecosystem nationwide.
He said: “This ban became necessary to minimize the public health, sanitation, and environmental hazards to which humans and the environment are exposed due to the increasing use of SUPs such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, Styrofoam packaging, plastic bags, sachet water, straws.”
He added that the training for staff signaled the kick-off of the sensitization on the ban, “the campaign must start with us, the management and Staff of NESREA as the promoters of sustainable consumption and production. Let us make conscious efforts to comply.”
Discussing the Implementation Strategy for the Ban on Single-Use Plastics in the Facilities of Federal Government Ministries, Department And Agencies, the EU Facilitator, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi listed provision of water dispensers, provision of water bottles and branded sample shopping bags for staff as some of the first steps Federal MDAs could take towards the effective implementation of the policy.
