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The Committee of governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will be making very serious considerations and alternatives to plastics in a strategic step to reduce the present over-dependence on disposable plastics which comes with attendant, severe health and environmental consequences.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at an event organized by the apex bank to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day titled, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’
“..We would be encouraging the use of paper bags as alternatives to plastic bags. First of all, management have put the recycling of our paper waste into tissue paper which will be donated to the society as part of our corporate social responsibility.
“Management is also in the process of concluding the recycling of our polymer bank load waste into everyday use plastics such as flower pots, dustbins, etc., and the disposal of our electronic waste in an environmentally sound manner,” the governor stressed.
Introduced in 1974 by the United Nations, World Environment Day aims to facilitate awareness and encourage action across the world for the protection of the environment.
The annual celebration provides opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.”
Emefiele said the apex bank’s recognizes the huge hazards that plastics cause to human lives and the environment and that transiting into a more circular economy requires sustained commitment, attitudinal change and change in consumption habit.
“Having said the tone at the top, I urge you all to take actions to make our plastic consumption more sustainable by using the 97 water fountains strategically situated within this building as source of drinking water,” he told the CBN staff at the event.
“What we are saying is, rather than buying multiple bottles of water,you could just go to our water fountains and have well-treated water rather than resorting to using 60ml bottles of plastics for water consumption.
“You can count on us and our colleagues, the deputy governors to act as change champions.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria also marked the event through activities including, online surveys, plastic pre-campaigns and exhibitions by recycling companies to create awareness and understanding of the scourge of plastic pollution.
The governor said the celebration which he believes will be a game changer, will provide an opportunity for the CBN to renew its commitment towards the implementation of the Nigerian sustainable banking principles and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Climate Change agreement; because the reduction in plastic use will bring about reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints.
He explained that although plastic will not decompose in substances like soil, it will breakdown into tiny particles after many years. In the process of breaking down, it will release toxic chemicals which make their way into our food and water supply, thereby constituting health damage to human life.
Citing a United Nations study, Emefiele more than 300 million tons of plastic is produced each year and half of it is single use or disposable. Single use or disposable plastics are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These include items like plastic bag, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles, disposable utensils and most food packaging.
17 million barrels of oil is used to produce plastic bottles for water annually, and according to him, these petroleum based plastics are not biodegradable and usually find its ways into the oceans. The governor urged the audience to join this global call for action by taking steps to reduce plastic consumption in order ensure a healthy environment.
He reminded the audience of the declaration adopted by heads of governments from 193 countries during the United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2017 Nairobi, Kenya, which quotes that “Any threat to our environment is a threat to our health, our society, our economy, our security, our well-being, and our everyday survival.”
Meanwhile, Union Bank has trained primary school students in Lagos state on the benefits of upcycling to the environment as part of efforts to positively impact the communities within which it operates, while mark World Environment Day.
Speaking on the Bank’s activities to mark World Environment Day, Union Bank’s Head, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem said: “Union Bank is committed to being recognized as a sustainability champion and a socially responsible bank. As leaders in the Nigerian financial sector, we are deploying the latest technology for eco-efficiency and developing new processes to ensure we are accountable across our value chain.
Onyinye Nwachukwu, Abuja
