Plastic pollution Nigeria warning as FG links microplastics to fish consumption and backs policy reforms to curb marine litter and protect health

The Federal Ministry of Environment warned in Abuja on Friday that Plastic pollution Nigeria poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health, with microplastics already entering the food chain through fish consumption.

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The warning was delivered by Falmata Bukar-Kolo, Deputy Director of the Solid Waste Management and Technology Division, during a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the ministry in collaboration with PROTEGO to validate a policy brief on marine litter prevention.

Falmata Bukar-Kolo said plastics, widely used across the country, are non biodegradable and persist in the environment for years, worsening pollution in rivers, coastal waters and inland communities.

“Plastic pollution has severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems and human health. Microplastics have entered the food chain through fish consumption,” Falmata Bukar-Kolo said, adding that clogged waterways, soil contamination and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics compound the crisis.

Falmata Bukar-Kolo explained that improperly disposed plastics from inland areas are washed into rivers and eventually into the sea, contributing significantly to marine litter.

Falmata Bukar-Kolo called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and coordinated action among stakeholders, stressing the urgency of behavioural change and safer alternatives to single use plastics.

Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, Clem Ugorji, said Nigeria’s marine litter problem carries environmental, economic and reputational costs, particularly for coastal communities dependent on fishing and tourism.

The policy brief proposes harmonising the mandates of agencies including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the National Inland Waterways Authority, whose overlapping roles have hindered effective control of water pollution.

To address funding challenges, the document recommends mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility, making manufacturers accountable for the lifecycle of plastic packaging, alongside options such as blue bonds and environmental levies to support coastal waste infrastructure.

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The workshop forms part of efforts by the ministry to validate a policy framework aimed at curbing marine litter and strengthening coordinated action to protect aquatic ecosystems and public health.