SEDI, others Unite to Tackle Nigeria’s Plastic Crisis, Demand Ban on Single-Use Waste

​BENIN CITY — In a coordinated effort to address the escalating environmental degradation caused by plastic waste, the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI), alongside a coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations (CSOs), has launched a major advocacy campaign demanding stricter regulation and an eventual ban on single-use plastics across the country.

​The coalition, spearheaded by SEDI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tom Aneni, is calling on state and federal environmental agencies to replicate policy frameworks like the recent single-use plastic ban in Lagos State to curb what they describe as a “throwaway culture” that threatens public health and economic stability.

​The Hidden Toll on Public Health and Local Ecosystems

​Nigeria generates an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with less than 30% currently collected for recycling. The remaining volume accumulates rapidly in urban centers, water bodies, and agricultural lands. Dr. Aneni and partner organizations highlight that the consequences of this unchecked accumulation extend far beyond aesthetics, directly impacting the daily lives of citizens.

​1. Severe Infrastructure Blockages and Artificial Flooding

​The most immediate physical impact of plastic pollution in urban areas is the clogging of municipal drainage systems. Discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and plastic bags accumulate in gutters and canals, completely obstructing stormwater flow. During heavy rainfalls, this blockage triggers severe artificial flooding in residential areas, destroying property and paralyzing local commerce.

​2. Escalation of Vector-Borne Diseases

​Stagnant water trapped by plastic debris creates highly favorable breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors. Communities heavily polluted with plastic waste experience heightened risks of:

​Malaria: Due to proliferation of Anopheles mosquitoes in trapped urban pools.

​Cholera and Waterborne Diseases: As blocked sewers overflow into local shallow wells and clean water distribution lines.

​3. Toxic Air Pollution from Open Burning

​In the absence of widespread, organized municipal waste management infrastructure, many communities resort to burning accumulated waste heaps. The open combustion of plastics releases highly dangerous chemical compounds into the air, including dioxins, furans, and particulate matter. Regular exposure to these fumes has led to a noticeable rise in chronic respiratory ailments, skin irritations, and long-term cardiovascular risks among residents living near informal dumping grounds.

​4. Microplastics in the Food Chain

​Over time, large plastics break down through environmental weathering into microscopic particles known as microplastics. These toxic particles infiltrate agricultural soils and aquatic ecosystems. Recent studies show that microplastics are increasingly ingested by marine life in coastal waters and inland rivers, meaning these synthetic chemicals gradually enter the human food chain through fish and agricultural produce consumed by the populace.

​Calls for Structural Reform and a Just Transition

​Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Benin City focused on zero-waste strategies, Dr. Tom Aneni emphasized that public awareness campaigns alone are insufficient without strong legislative backing.

​”We are proposing a decisive shift in policy,” Dr. Aneni stated. “Our throwaway culture has become a structural emergency. We need state governments to implement actionable bans on single-use plastics while formalizing our informal recycling sectors to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable waste workers.”

​The coalition further stresses that any policy shift must include a “just transition” for thousands of informal waste pickers who currently collect the bulk of the nation’s recyclable plastics. SEDI is advocating for official registration, fair compensation, and health protections for these workers, recognizing them as an essential component of the country’s circular economy.
​The joint CSO campaign is set to extend its advocacy across the South-South region, engaging local government councils, market women associations, and school boards to establish sanitary clubs aimed at educating the next generation on sustainable waste management practices.