PLASTIC POLLUTION: A NIGERIAN CASE STUDY

Nigeria, a country in West Africa, is grappling with the detrimental effects of plastic waste on its ecosystems and communities. Plastic wastes have two major categories of macro- and microplastics according to respective sizes. The urgent need for concerted efforts to determine the extent and characteristics of plastics waste, especially microplastics pollution in Nigerian water resources is emphasized. Land and marine-based plastic wastes have negative effects on human, aquatics systems and wild-life. Societal challenges contributing to plastic pollution in Nigeria include poor waste management practices, insufficient capacity and investment in waste collection infrastructure and prevalence of single-use plastic bags. The study also highlights that the few successes recorded in the fight against plastic pollution by virtue of Nigeria’s recent collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP). This study recommends improved waste management practices, regulatory measures, increased research efforts and implementation of novel removal strategies (activated carbon adsorption), as feasible strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in Nigeria.