By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Speaker, House of representative, Tajudeen Abbas said waste management has the potential to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth, create jobs, and improve environmental sustainability.
Abbas made the assertion at the book launch and public presentation of ‘Recycling in Nigeria’, written by Terseer Ugbor, a member of House of Representatives and deputy chairman, Committee on Environment in Abuja.
Abbas, who was represented by Terlunmo Seskaa, said “There is a need to tap into the vast business opportunities available in the industry”.
He also urged entrepreneurs to capitalize on the lucrative market.
Speaking on the book , he said the book is written as a motivation for people of all age to establish their personal business on waste management.
Similarly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, noted that waste management is a big business that has been overlooked, adding that recycling market product is readily available everywhere.
On his part, the author, who is the federal lawmaker representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in Benue noted it is appalling to observe that many Nigerians are not taking advantage of the huge opportunities embedded in waste management and recycling.
“It is high time Nigerians knew more about recycling, waste management and waste-to-wealth, including plastics, tyres, e-waste, metal waste, papers, and waste oil, among others.
“This helps to kick-start the culture of recycling in Nigeria and educate young people on the practice and how they can make a livelihood from it.
“There is a huge potential in the sector and we need to get more people involved to boost employment opportunities.
“Nigeria generates several thousands of wastes every day, and these wastes have a lot of value and resources that can be recovered from proper recycling.
“The job opportunities are enormous and the energy potential is there for entrepreneurs”, he said.
On what the National Assembly is doing to enforce proper waste management, Ugbor explained that lawmakers in the country had recently proposed amendments to several laws on recycling in the country.
He also identified the policy of ‘Extended Producers’ Responsibility’ that ensures every manufactured product in the country passes through a waste recycling process as one such effort.
According to him: “At the National Assembly, we have proposed a bill called the EPR Act to mainstream and ensure that all manufacturing companies, commercial enterprises and individuals in the country take responsibility for the waste we throw away in our daily activities.
“To achieve this, the Ministry of Environment and NESREA launched the EPR survey where every manufacturer, importer and individual who produces or uses a product that becomes waste must take responsibility throughout the entire life cycle of that particular product”.
