Research Document: Addressing the Plastic Waste Problem in Nigeria

Posted Wed, Nov 29, 2023 5:44 AM

Nigeria is experiencing a concerning plastic pollution problem. One that is causing significant environmental damage, from the imbalance created in the oceans and the erosion of biodiversity to its outright influence on pollution, public health, and climate change. With a population of about 200 million and a projected 400 million people by2050, it is imperative that the issue of plastic and its management is front burner. The country is estimated to generate an average of 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with its commercial capital, Lagos, generating 870,000 annually. These numbers are a major cause for concern, especially as the ubiquity of plastic waste is steadily growing, with no directed measures to curb the increase.
This policy brief discusses the plastic waste problem and current national policies in place to address the issue. It also provides recommendations for where these policies could go to tighten and more directly engage with the issue of plastic waste management in Nigeria, paying attention to economic efficiency and environmental-protection.