Nigeria Pledges To Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution

Nigeria has pledged its commitment to an international legally binding instrument to reduce the menace of marine plastic pollution from land-based sources and activities.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance in a statement delivered on his behalf by the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Highlighting Nigeria’s effort at ensuring the health and sustainability of oceans, seas and marine resources, the President said a national policy on plastic pollution and the road map for tackling solid and plastic waste management had been formulated and established.

The President, who lauded the United Nations for leading the process of effective ocean governance, said Nigeria had mainstreamed ocean management into the economy, constituting a Presidential Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy.

He also announced that Nigeria has embarked on the creation of two marine protected areas.

President Buhari reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to participating constructively in the ongoing negotiations for various multilateral agreements, including on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.