The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and member organizations of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) have expressed concern over the recent suspension of Green Taxation on Single-Use Plastics by the federal government, cautioning that it will make Nigeria a dumping ground for plastic waste products.

The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams said that the new development will only bring to fruition the ominous 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 the oceans and water bodies, not promoting policies and laws that increases the production of more plastic. 

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

Also speaking on the issue, the ERA/FoEN Project Officer of Waste Management, Melody Enyinnaya pointed out that Green taxations are eco/environmental tax, foisted on activities that pollute the environment, as Single-Used Plastics have become a major pollutant of the environment.

According to her, Green taxation on SUPs incorporates the negative expanse of the adverse effects of SUPs on the environment and the idea surrounding green taxes is to increase production costs for corporations, thereby bringing about higher prices on plastics, which will have the effect of discouraging consumers from purchasing them, further reducing their pollution rate on the environment.

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