The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), the Federal Government, and other stakeholders to tackle the impacts of plastic pollution on biodiversity.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of NCF, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during the Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue on Inclusive Plastic Action in Nigeria and the National Validation Workshop for the Assessment Report on the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Biodiversity. The event was organized by NCF in partnership with NPAP and the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Onoja explained that plastic pollution affects both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, which in turn has consequences for human health, as many contaminated aquatic animals are consumed as food. He stressed the need for collective action to reduce plastic waste and prevent further contamination of aquatic foods.
He revealed that an assessment conducted by experts across six states found that plastic waste, when recycled into microplastics, becomes embedded in the tissues of aquatic animals such as fish.
“The dialogue aims to address policy gaps, challenges, and opportunities to integrate biodiversity–plastic linkages into national planning and implementation,” Onoja said.
The workshop also sought to validate findings on how plastic pollution affects ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots in Nigeria and to align the assessment with key national policy frameworks, including NPAP and Biodiversity Financing.
Onoja added that the event addressed inclusion issues affecting informal waste workers, particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities. “The dialogue strengthens multi-stakeholder collaboration, co-designs practical solutions, and identifies entry points for integrating biodiversity–plastic pollution considerations into national and sub-national decision-making,” he said.
He further noted NCF’s collaboration with the Global Action Partnership (GAP) to assess the impact of plastic waste on biodiversity.
Also speaking, Mr. Aliyu Auwal, Director of Communication and Strategic Partnership at the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), called for policies to formally integrate waste pickers into the system.
“Such policies will improve the welfare and livelihoods of waste pickers, allowing them to move freely in communities, access health insurance, and participate in cooperative models that include micro-insurance schemes, benefiting them in old age,” Auwal said.
