Indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Nigeria

One of the commonly accepted indicators for assessing the level of development of any nation is the efficient management of its refuse.

Inefficient management of refuse poses great threat to public health in any environment.

The indiscriminate dumping of refuse is unsightly, risky and exposes people to diseases.

The term 'environment' implies all the external factors, living and non-living materials which surround man.

It does not only include water, air and soil but also social and economic conditions under which we live.

Inefficient management of refuse seems to have defied solutions introduced by several administrations in Nigeria.

With the country's growing population and poor waste management habits of the populace, waste management has posed a threat to the environment and health of several people.

Indiscriminate dumping of refuse by Nigerians has led to increasing illegal dump sites while refuse heaps have become a common sight in popular urban centres across the country.

Mr Williams Osaze, the President of Society for the Promotion of People`s Rights, an NGO, explained that refuse were rubbish or materials that were not needed and economically unusable without further processing.

Osaze further explained that indiscriminate disposal of refuse was a situation where refuse was dumped in any convenient place not minding the environmental risk-factors that were likely to follow.

He said that the problem of indiscriminate disposal of refuse and unsanitary environment should be given urgent attention because of the risk-factors on human health.

Osaze said that a strong political will among relevant stakeholders and government's sincerity in addressing environmental issues such as plastic waste disposal and other waste must be addressed with a united plan.

He urged the government to pursue solutions that genuinely protect and preserve the constitutional rights to health and a balanced and healthful ecology.

"Government should initiate a concerted effort to coordinate together various laws, policies and international conventions/agreements to manage waste," Osaze said.

Speaking on the menace and effects of plastic waste on the environment, the Chief Executive, Environmental and Rural Mediation Centre, Chief Monday Itoghor, said government needed to be more aggressive, responsive.

Itoghor said this was necessary to promote genuine solutions to curb plastic production and consumption.

However, he noted that there were major challenges confronting recycling interventions in Nigeria including lack of public awareness about the recycling value chain.

"Inadequate collection of infrastructure especially in remote locations; high cost of logistics; and lack of finance are challenges.

"Another challenge is inadequate implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, a policy placing responsibility on producers to manage the life cycle of their products.

"In other words, the government should mainstream the above-mentioned challenges in any policy framework for sustainable plastic waste solutions.

"What Nigerians need are real and urgent solutions to this plastic crisis. We can no longer afford any more excuses and delays.

"While individuals and local government areas are doing their parts, the state needs to make efforts by passing a comprehensive law banning single-use plastics.

"This policy will significantly advance other local efforts to preserve and protect our environment," Itoghor said.

Mr Michael Ogbunam, a climatologist says that refuse refers to all the component parts of solid wastes found in the human environment.

Ogbunam added that attitude of people towards the environment had continued to increase the menace, thereby causing more harm to the environment as well as to individuals' health.

"What we should do as individuals, is to find out what you can do to help make a difference in our environment every day.

"Whether you are at home, on the go, in the office, at school, or anywhere we find ourselves, there are many opportunities to go green by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

"The best place to start making a difference is right in your own home. Learn how you can reduce, reuse, and recycle materials to decrease household waste,'' he advised.

Prof. Aliyu Jauro, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said that environmental issues were cross-cutting and affected all segments of the economy.

Jauro mentioned some of the efforts made by the agency to ensure effective environmental governance through compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws, standards and regulations.

He said that apart from special sensitisation and awareness campaigns to specific groups and individuals, the agency also carried out weekly sensitisation programmes to markets, schools, parks, shopping malls, among others.

According to Jauro, the programme is aimed at educating the general public on how to address identified emerging environmental issues in accordance with relevant environmental laws and regulations.

"The exercise, which enlightens the general public, is being carried out in all states with NESREA' presence as well as in the FCT.

"Environmental compliance monitoring for sustainable development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of good environmental governance.

"Good environmental governance presupposes effective and adequate environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to address environmental problems at all levels.

"NESREA will continue to ensure effective environmental governance through compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws, standards and regulations.

"There is no hiding place for those who violate environmental laws of the land.

"The agency is identifying and building viable partnerships at country, sub-regional, regional and global levels on environment and environment related issues.

"Also, in collaboration with all stakeholders, and with the full support of the Ministry of Environment and NESREA' governing council, the agency will work to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all Nigerians," he promised.