The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to strengthen waste management strategies to address the growing threat of environmental pollution and its associated health risks across Nigeria.
The call was made following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Julius Pondi, representing Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State, during a plenary session in Abuja.
Pondi, while presenting the motion, lamented the challenges Nigerians face in handling waste disposal, particularly in the oil and gas sector and manufacturing industries.
“The House observes the recurring negative impacts that ineffective waste disposal practices have had on the health of citizens in communities and locations where oil and gas activities are conducted,” he said.
The motion highlighted key contributors to environmental pollution, including hazardous industrial discharges, persistent gas flaring, crude and refined oil spills, and poor domestic waste disposal practices.
The House urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, to step up enforcement of environmental laws.
The lawmakers also called on state and local governments to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure that oil companies, manufacturing industries, and small and medium-scale enterprises adopt safer and more sustainable waste disposal methods to prevent disease outbreaks.
Additionally, the House mandated its Committee on Environment to conduct a nationwide survey to assess the extent of environmental pollution and evaluate compliance with existing waste management regulations.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks for further legislative action.
