Suspending tax on single-use plastics will turn Nigeria into plastic waste dump, rights group warns

A coalition of environmental rights groups has expressed concerns over the recent suspension of Green Taxation on Single-Use Plastics by the Federal Government, warning that the decision will turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for plastic waste products.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Communication Officer for the coalition, Elvira Jordan, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The coalition comprises Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth Nigeria and member organisations of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives.

Recall that the FG recently announced the suspension of the Green Taxation, which imposes an Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, including containers and bottles.

NAN reports that tax on single-use plastics was part of the government’s efforts to address the growing concern over the impact of plastic waste on the ecosystem.

The group noted that though the suspension is in line with the current administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, it might impact the Nigerian environment negatively.

The statement quoted Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams, as saying that the new development will only bring to fruition the prediction that plastic products in the ocean will surpass the number of fish in the water by 2040.

According to him, the Nigerian government is supposed to enact policies that will put an end to the invasion of plastic on our oceans and water bodies, not promoting policies and laws that will increase the production of more plastics.

“At a time like this when the world is set on improving the consciousness of the public on the need to end the use of plastics, it is unfortunate that our president is increasing the importance of plastic products, when Nigeria is being ravaged by a plastic tsunami.

“Nigeria is supposed to be signing a law that promotes the phase-out of plastics.

“This suspension may seem that the government is not committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on the reduction of the impact of climate change from the waste sector,” Williams said.

He called on the government to deliberately programme itself into a zero-waste society where no waste would be generated, or all waste generated are seen as resources.

Also, ERA/FoEN Project Officer, Waste Management, Melody Enyinnaya, stated that green taxation is an eco-environmental tax foisted on activities that pollute the environment, as Single-Used Plastics have become major pollutants of the environment.

According to her, Green taxation on SUPs incorporates the negative expanse of the adverse effects of SUPs on the environment.

She said the idea of a green tax would increase production costs for corporations, thereby, bringing about higher prices on plastics, which would discourage consumers from purchasing them, further reducing their pollution rate on the environment.

“The key implication here is that this suspension will impede the efforts in reducing SUPs pollution, especially for a country like Nigeria that does not have effective policies guiding SUPs production, consumption and disposal.”

“The government should revisit the suspension of green taxation while considering the environmental and health implications of such policies to health,” Enyinnaya said.

She advised the government to look at developing legislative instruments like a withdrawal policy that would hold these corporations accountable for their product waste.

(NAN)