NCF, NPAP, FG move to tackle plastic pollution threatening biodiversity

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) has announced plans to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), the Federal Government and other stakeholders to address the growing impact of plastic pollution on Nigeria’s biodiversity.

NCF Director-General, Dr Joseph Onoja, made this announcement on Wednesday in Abuja during the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Inclusive Plastic Action in Nigeria and the National Validation Workshop for the Assessment Report on the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Biodiversity.

The event was organised by the NCF in partnership with the NPAP and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Onoja warned that plastic waste pollution affects both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with direct implications for human health, especially as contaminated aquatic species end up as food.

He said findings from an assessment conducted by experts across six states showed that microplastics formed during plastic recycling processes become embedded in the tissues of aquatic organisms, including fish consumed daily by Nigerians.

According to him, the dialogue seeks to address policy gaps, challenges and opportunities for integrating biodiversity–plastic linkages into national planning and implementation frameworks.

He added that the workshop’s goal is to validate findings on how plastic pollution impacts ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots, while aligning them with key national policy instruments such as NPAP and biodiversity financing initiatives.

Onoja said the forum also focused on inclusion, particularly on issues affecting informal waste workers, such as women, young people, and persons with disabilities.

“The dialogue is aimed at strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and co-designing practical, context-specific solutions,” he said. “It will also identify clear entry points for integrating biodiversity–plastic pollution considerations into national and sub-national decision-making.”

He noted that the NCF is partnering with the Global Action Partnership (GAP) to deepen research on how plastic waste pollutes biodiversity.

Also speaking, Mr Aliyu Auwal, Director of Communication and Strategic Partnership at the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), who called for policies that would formally integrate waste pickers into the national waste management system.

He said such policies would enhance the welfare of waste pickers by giving them legal backing, health insurance coverage and access to cooperative structures that could guarantee micro-insurance benefits, especially in old age.