The Centre for Human Security and Dialogue, an arm of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, has sensitized stakeholders in the environment sector in the inherent dangers associated with not reusing plastic and nylon materials.
It said that the plastic and nylon pollution is hazardous to human health, hence the need for all to learn how to properly dispose these items.
Speaking at a one-day programme with the theme “Beating Plastic Pollution” to mark the 2018 World Environment Day, the Centre Director, Professor Peter Okebukola, said the event was organised to raise awareness on the hazard of plastic pollution in Africa and in Nigeria.
Okebukola, who was represented by his spokesman, Ayo Tella, in his speech disclosed that it was important to educate people on plastic pollution in the country in order to promote their well-being.
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He said, “Plastic bags, bottle, plates and other accessories are now a global phenomenon. It is estimated that one million plastic bags are used every minute worldwide. Unfortunately, appropriate disposal methods have been elusive. Plastic bags have been found in immense amounts in oceans, threatening many communities. This is dangerous to people’s health.”
He challenged individuals and organisations to advocate and campaign for the eradication of plastic pollution, stressing that the collective efforts would ensure good health and reduce incessant death.
The Programme Officer, Miss AdebimpeAkinkuotu, who addressed hundreds of students and National Youth Service Corps members at the event submitted that large numbers of people in the country die every day as a result of plastic pollution, suggesting that the best solution was to keep the environment clean by stopping single use of plastic.
Akinkuotu charged Nigerians to end the habit of disposing plastic waste in drainages.
“Plastics are as dangerous as any deadly disease when they are not properly disposed. High death rate in the county is usually attributed to some harzardous diseases, but the truth is plastic pollution is a deadly problem that people do not pay attention to.
“We are here to beat plastic pollution because most of the sea animals that we eat such as fish and crayfish food on plastics and as we consume these animals for food we automatically eat plastic, this is dangerous to our health. We must beat plastic pollution before it beats us,” she added.