Reps pass Bill seeking prohibition of imported plastics ‎for commercial, household use

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed into second reading a bill seeking to prohibit the use, importation and manufacture of plastics bags for household and commercial purposes.

The Bill when passed into law would address the harmful effects of the use of plastics and other chemical products in the country.

In his lead debate on the general principles of the Bill, its sponsor Hon Sergius Ogun said that the proposed legislation would relieve pressure on the environment and wildlife.

The Bill entitled ‘A Bill for an Act to among Other things prohibit the use, Manufacture and Importation of all Plastics Bags, used for Commercial and Household Packaging in order to Address its Harmful Impact on Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Forests Environment, Wildlife as well as Human Beings and also to relieve pressure on Landfills and Waste Management and for Related Matters’

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The lawmaker noted that plastic bags were not recycled and so caused a lot of harms if not disposed of properly.

He said that these plastic bags when disposed usually block the culverts and other water channels thereby posing great harzards to the people and environment.

He hinted that the bill when passed into law would enable the regulatory agencies like NESREA the legal backing to enforce the regulations in the use of these products.

Also speaking in support of the Bill, Hon Aminu Shagari said that there should be adequate laws to safeguard the environment

Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon Yakubu Dogara passed the Bill into second reading and referred it to its relevant committee for further legislative inputs.