Developing Legal Framework for Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria (Published)
In Nigeria, the right to a clean and satisfactory environment will be sustainable when the issue of inadequacy of waste management laws and policy measures are addressed and there are effective waste management laws in the country. The advent of the problem of industrialization and urbanization has resulted in plastic waste in Nigeria which has posed a challenge and is still posing challenge to human health, animals as well as environmental damage. Plastic waste pollution has become a pressing environmental concern globally, particularly for countries like Nigeria without a proper mechanism for managing its impacts. Though, Nigeria has established a wide range of legal and institutional framework to combat environmental issues including the Plastic Bag Bill, National Policy on plastic Waste Management 2020, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act and the Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions, etc.) Act. However, despite the existence of these laws and the legislative efforts, the problem of plastic waste pollution in Nigeria still persists as result of the absence of national law that addresses plastic waste pollution. The problem of enforcement management mechanisms, limited resources, inadequate monitoring and indiscriminate waste disposal are also factors addressed in this study. In the light of the above, this study proffers solution to the problem of plastic waste management in Nigeria. This study also addressing measuring aimed at mitigating plastic waste pollution, highlighting the challenges impeding the effectiveness of the relevant existing legal framework on the subject. This study adopted the doctrinal method of Legal research. Relying on textbooks, journals, case and statutory laws, online articles and other sources of law. The study reveals the inadequacies prevalent in the waste management laws and how lack of proper management of plastic waste in Nigeria is a challenge to the right to clean and satisfactory environment. This study advocates for a regime that projects strengthening the enforcement mechanism through enhanced monitoring and stricter penalties to bolster compliance and deter violations as well as promoting sustainable plastic waste management practices in line with global best practices. The study further advocates that the legislature be more proactive and recognize plastic waste as a significant cause of environmental pollution and as such enact more laws that specifically address plastic waste indiscriminate disposal.
Keywords: Environment, Factors, Legal Framework, Nigeria, plastic waste pollution