By year 2050, plastics in oceans will outweigh fish - NIMASA DG

Laments Nigeria’s Contribution to Plastic Waste in Oceans

Abiola Seun

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside yesterday, said a report by the World Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, plastics in the oceans will outweigh fish if not mitigated.

Peterside who stated this at the launch of the maritime action plan on marine litter and plastic management in Nigeria, cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of plastics saying marine litter and plastic pollution are threat to economic activities and safe navigation.

Dakuku lamented that Nigeria is among top 20 nations that contribute 83 percent of total volume of land-based plastic waste that ends up in the oceans/seas.

According to him, the United Nations Environment Programme -Global Programme Action (UNEP-GPA)/ NIMASA report ) has estimated that over 200,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from land-based sources in Nigeria, is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean each year.

His words, “A report by the World Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, plastics in the oceans will outweigh fish if not mitigated. It is well known that of 260 million tons of plastic produced in the world each year, about 10% ends up in the ocean and 70% of the mass eventually sinks, damaging life on the seabed. (CoastalCare.com).

“The challenges of Marine Litter and plastic pollution are multiple, and they include threat to food security, threat to economic activities, navigational hazard, water safety, threat to ecosystem, harmful effects on marine life and bio-diversity among others.

“It is known fact that our oceans and seas sustain lives but when the threats to ocean health are numerous, it also affects human beings.

“The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) in a study says, 83% of the 4.8–12.7 million tons of land-based plastic waste that ends up in the ocean from the 192 coastal countries originates from 20 countries including Nigeria.

“A study by Africa Impact Sustainable Initiative also reports that approximately 500 shipping containers of waste is dumped in Africa every month.

“In 2010, annual mismanaged plastic waste for the continent was put about 4.8 million tonnes and could reach 11.5 million tonnes in 2025. (www.downtoearth.org.in)

These occurrences are not only evident globally or continentally, but also in Nigeria, which is among top 20 nations that contribute 83% of total volume of land-based plastic waste that end up in the oceans/seas.

It is estimated that over 200,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from land-based sources in Nigeria, is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean each year. (UNEP-GPA/NIMASA Report).”

The NIMASA boss who quoted a Voice of American (VOA) report said Nigeria generates 2.5million tons of plastic waste alleged that majority of littoral communities, dump waste in the oceans and seas.

He said, “Nigeria generates an estimated 32 million tons of solid waste per year, one of the highest amounts in Africa. Of that figure, plastic constitutes 2.5 million tons.

“This poses a great danger to the environment and particularly our marine ecosystem because an immeasurable number of coastal communities in Nigeria have no official waste collection service, meaning that there is nowhere for litter to go.

“An immeasurable number of coastal communities in Nigeria have no official waste collection service, meaning that there is nowhere for litter to go. Regrettably, most of the waste generated in these communities ends up in the seas and oceans.”

“The overall implications for the Nigerian economy are enormous. The presence of Marine Litter and Plastics in our waters is impacting negatively on the drive to make Nigeria a greener, safer and healthier nation.

“We all know that solutions to this global challenge are multiple and require consideration of a systematic approach to the various sources generating the pollution, both land- and sea-based contributors, and a combination of intervention in different sectors and at different levels.”

“For those within the maritime sector, we are faced with greater threat hence the development of the relevant IMO instruments which includes the MARPOL-Annex V, London Convention and its Protocol as well as the Nigerian Merchant Shipping Act 2007.

“This global effort is tackling marine litter and waste dumped into the sea and oceans aligns with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 11, 12,14, and 17.

Recognizing that NIMASA has a responsibility of ensuring that Nigeria has Clean Seas and Oceans, we have decided to take action in partnership with others to combat the menace of marine litter and plastics,” the DG concluded