Kano State Government has called for collective action among individuals, organisations, and governments to combat plastic pollution.
The call comes as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Hashim, made the call at an event to mark the day on Wednesday in Kano.
He was represented by his Special Assistant on Environmental Sanitation, Abdullahi Shehu -Bichi.
Hashim said the World Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1974, was marked annually on June 5 to raise global awareness and encourage action for environmental protection.
“The theme for 2025 – “Beat Plastic Pollution”, focuses attention on the urgent need to reduce the use of single-use plastics and to adopt sustainable alternatives,” he said.
He noted that though plastic was a cheap, lightweight and durable material, it posed serious threat to the environment due to its long degradation period.
“Most plastics are used only once and discarded within minutes, ending up in landfills, water bodies or as litter.
“The pollution takes various forms from marine debris and microplastics in water to plastic netting that endangers aquatic life,” he said.
Hashim said the theme stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to tackle the plastic menace, which affected not only the environment but also human health.
Earlier, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Mr Rahama Farah said plastic pollution remained one of the biggest threats to the planet, with over 400 million tonnes produced annually.
He warned that much of this plastic ended up in rivers, oceans, soil, and even the food people consumed.
Farah said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution,” was a global call to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics while seeking greener alternatives.
“In Kano today, we are planting trees and engaging in plastic trash collection as part of our activities to mark the day,” he said.
“These efforts align with UNICEF’s global Green Rising initiative, which mobilises youth for climate action through volunteering, green skills development, and environmental advocacy,” he explained.
NAN
