A Call To Action Against Plastic Pollution
By Olamide Martins Ogunlade and Esi-Ife Arogundade
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, could not be more timely. With the growing threat plastic waste poses to our environment, the call for action has become urgent and unavoidable.
Each June, the United Nations uses World Environment Day to raise awareness about the importance of a clean and healthy environment.
As the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) often reminds us, we have a shared responsibility to protect our planet—to ensure clean air, unpolluted rivers, and thriving forests. The environment isn’t just our backdrop; it is the very foundation of our health, well-being, and future.
In his message to mark the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned: “Plastic pollution is choking our planet—harming ecosystems, well-being, and the climate.” His words echo loudly in Nigeria, where the scale of the problem is stark.
A report by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group estimates that Nigeria generates around 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with Lagos alone contributing 870,000 tonnes.
The numbers are alarming, particularly as plastic use continues to grow unchecked and coordinated efforts to manage the waste remain insufficient.
Lagos is reportedly the most plastic-polluted state in West Africa. Although a portion of its plastic waste is collected and recycled, the majority ends up discarded indiscriminately—clogging drainage systems, contaminating waterways, and damaging the environment.
The state has taken a step in the right direction by banning Styrofoam and pledging to begin enforcement against single-use plastics from 1 July. At the federal level, the government also announced a ban on single-use plastics in its offices, signalling intent for a broader national ban. Yet, implementation has been slow, with little visible follow-up since the announcement.
Sadly, the casual dumping of plastic bottles by commuters and beachgoers remains commonplace across Nigeria, despite the long-term consequences.
Plastic pollution affects more than just marine life and human health—it erodes the beauty of our natural spaces and threatens cultural and ecological systems. The urgency to act cannot be overstated.
Addressing the crisis requires a multi-pronged strategy. This includes confronting the root cause—plastic production tied to fossil fuels—and reforming poor waste management systems nationwide. The government must adopt policies that actively discourage single-use plastics and invest meaningfully in public education to promote the “reduce, reuse, recycle” model.
It is our duty to leave behind an environment that future generations can cherish. No action is too small; every effort matters.
Olamide Martins Ogunlade is Associate Director (Climate Change) at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Esi-Ife Arogundade is a climate change advocate at CAPPA. They write from Lagos, Nigeria.
