FG moves to mitigate electronic wastes

THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it was making frantic efforts to ensure the safety of the environment and mitigate the impact of electronic wastes in the country.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this while receiving the Executive Secretary of E-Waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Faluyi in his office in Abuja when she paid him a working visit.

Dr Onu said the ministry, through its agencies, National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and National Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), was working hard to ensure conversion of electronic wastes to wealth, adding that problems which are spin-offs of scientific progress could also be solved through Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

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He said NASENI particularly was working hard in the area of waste management and ensuring that technology is utilized in such a way that the environment is protected and the people are healthy and secured.

The Minister also reiterated the commitment of the ministry to encourage women in the field of science, technology and innovation to achieve their desired goals.

Dr Onu maintained that the resources of the nation could only be utilised if gender disparity is bridged and women are carried along at every level of governance in society.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Mrs Faluyi reiterated the commitment of her organization to partner with the ministry to ensure that electrical equipment manufactured in the country and the ones imported are managed and recycled in an environmentally safe manner.