The Foundation for Earth’s Rights Assembly (FERA) has attributed Nigeria’s escalating environmental challenges to the country’s inefficient waste management system, particularly the unchecked spread of plastic pollution.

Speaking at an event in Benin City to mark the 2025 World Environment Day, themed “End Plastic Pollution in Nigeria,” FERA’s Executive Director, Nosa Tokunbor, warned that single-use plastics now dominate the landscape of Nigerian cities, largely due to the failure of existing waste systems.

Tokunbor emphasized that the nation’s heavy dependence on plastic, especially non-recyclable types, poses a grave threat to human health, biodiversity, and the climate.

“Plastic pollution is a major contributor to climate change. Globally, it is estimated that 19–23 million tonnes of plastic leak into aquatic ecosystems annually. This has devastating effects on ecosystems, economies, and human health,” he said.

He noted that while recycling is important, it is not sufficient. “Only about 9% of plastics are recycled globally. Many plastic products are not designed for reuse, making recycling difficult,” Tokunbor explained.

He called for urgent adoption of alternatives and redesigns that promote durability and reusability.

Highlighting the global dimension of the issue, he cited the ongoing negotiations toward an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution, as outlined in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14.

Tokunbor urged greater international cooperation and support for developing countries like Nigeria to adopt effective policies.

“Ambitious policies are needed, but many nations lack the resources to implement them. Development cooperation can help scale up policy efforts and resource mobilization,” he added.

He called on Nigerians to reduce their plastic footprint and support systemic changes to combat environmental degradation.