By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is targeting the elimination of 300 tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) from the environment by the first quarter of 2021 through the implementation of its Global Environmental Facility (GEF) programme.
This was disclosed by the Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr Aliyu Jauro, while declaring open a four-day training on e-waste management in Lagos.
The theme of the training is Executable Building Programme for Enforcement Officers and Value Chain for the EPR on the Circular Economy; Approaches for Electronic Sector in Nigeria and will run from Monday, November 23 – Thursday, November 26.
Mr Jauro pointed out that GEF implementation would begin January 2021 in Lagos, noting that there would be training on Extended Producer Responsibility Programme (EPR) to help reduce the adverse impact of e-waste on life and the environment.
He said that Lagos was chosen as the pilot state for the implementation of the scheme due to its major role in the influx of e-waste in the country.
“The federal government is at the verge of contributing its counterpart fund to UNEP to facilitate the advancement of the programme in the country.
“This programme is a well-thought-out one to empower our foot soldiers and stakeholders on the value chain toward environment-friendly conduct in their operations for both new and used electronics and electrical items.
“GEF has 183 member nations and the zeal at which the federal government and others are pursuing this programmes signify that good environment is life and its sustainability is everyone responsibility,” he said.
Mr Jauro further added that in order to achieve the target, the agency will partner with others in establishing e-waste collection centres in every Local Government Area across the country.
He said that the GEF implementation programmes would be expanded to other states for total management and recycling.
The NESREA DG regretted that the unprofessional handling of e-waste had caused the world and Nigeria in particular great damage that would cost a fortune to correct.
On his part, Mr Oludayo Dada, Consultant to GEF implementation programme, said that poor handling of e-waste by quacks had raised concern on the safety of human habitat in Nigeria.
According to him, EPR is a good programme that will put the responsibility of e-waste on the producer until the end of the life span of such waste.
He said that Nigeria and the global body had regulations on this, adding that apportioning workable modalities of enforcement was the focal point.
Modupe Gbadeyanka