Nigeria faces worsening health crisis due to surging plastic pollution and inadequate waste management
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Experts warn that Nigeria is at risk of a worsening public health crisis due to its escalating plastic waste problem. Stephen Ochigbo, a Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, highlighted that over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually in Nigeria, with more than 70 percent ending up in landfills and water bodies. This indiscriminate disposal, driven by poor systems and reliance on single-use packaging, contaminates water sources, clogs drainage systems, and contributes to flooding and disease outbreaks. Ochigbo noted that plastics, many of which are non-biodegradable and petroleum-based, persist in the environment for hundreds of years. He urged chemists to research biodegradable alternatives like cellulose, starch, and proteins, and called for stronger waste management, stricter policy enforcement, and increased public awareness. Additionally, Ochigbo stressed the need for scientists to develop methods to convert polluted water into safe drinking water, as inadequate management of wastewater and contamination from crude oil exploration, open defecation, and mining activities reduce access to clean water. Dr. Jimlas Ogunsakin, a public health systems specialist, corroborated these concerns, stating that poor waste management is already fueling disease outbreaks such as cholera and typhoid in densely populated cities like Lagos. He emphasized that proper waste disposal and drain clearance can reduce disease cycles an
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Troops from the 82 Division and the Joint Task Force South-East have arrested a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network ESN, during clearance operations in Imo State. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Mr. Onyebuchi Dara from Etinasa community in Orsu Local Government Area, was apprehended at Ehioma Junction based on intelligence related to previous attacks on security personnel. Mr. Dara had reportedly benefited from an amnesty program before going underground due to fears of attacks from a suspected armed group leader. Preliminary interrogation suggests he admitted to being present during the 2022 killing of two soldiers, retired MWO Linus Musa and Pte Gloria Matthew, at Ubaha–Orsu. He is currently in custody as investigations continue to track other suspects. In a separate operation along the Akwu–Udah axis, troops discovered and safely neutralized five Improvised Explosive Devices IEDs that had been abandoned for years. Additionally, military and vigilante uniforms, boots, and other items suspected of being used for impersonation and operational support by criminal elements were recovered. Operations are ongoing to degrade hostile networks and restore security in the South-East.
Economists believe the Federal Government's recent pay increase for some federal workers will not cause inflation. The Head of Service announced the pay rise affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure. Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, stated the increase is too small to generate significant inflationary pressure, noting that public service salary levels are not high and the scope of the increase is limited. He emphasized that inflation is typically driven by a substantial rise in money supply, which this adjustment does not represent. Dr. Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, suggested the increase might instead help alleviate poverty among public workers due to their currently low wages. However, Teriba advised the government against making permanent wage adjustments without clear justification, urging transparent communication of the rationale. He warned that responses to temporary external shocks, like geopolitical tensions, should be temporary and time-bound, not open-ended. Teriba also stressed that any policy aimed at improving workers' welfare should be comprehensive and clearly framed, applied broadly across sectors, and based on transparent economic reasoning.
Must ReadFormer Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, stated that Nigeria has not financed any new major power plant in 11 years, attributing this to policy inconsistency, weak infrastructure development, and the discontinuation of a financing framework. Speaking at the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics 2026 conference, Nnaji explained that a government-backed partial risk guarantee instrument, designed to de-risk investments and attract global financing, was abruptly halted after a change in administration. This framework, which had successfully financed projects like the Azura Edo power plant, was established during his tenure with former Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Nnaji emphasized that this decision sent a negative signal to investors, freezing large-scale financing in the sector. He also highlighted the need for Nigeria to leverage its vast natural gas reserves, predicting it will be the dominant energy source for the next two decades, despite current infrastructure deficits and gas supply shortages affecting existing assets like NLNG. Nnaji further pointed to the Mambilla hydropower project as an example of Nigeria's inability to execute strategic projects due to a lack of political will. Hassan Mahmud, President of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics, added that Africa's energy challenge is one of execution, not resource scarcity, noting that Nigeria's installed generation capacity is significantly underutilized due to gas supply, infrastructu
Must ReadA new report by the Africa Finance Corporation AFC reveals that Africa's growing capital base, estimated at over $4 trillion, is not translating into significant job creation or industrial growth. The 2026 State of Africa’s Infrastructure report, "The Africa We Build: From Capital to Systems," highlights that despite substantial expansion in domestic financial resources across banks, pension funds, insurance pools, and sovereign institutions, the continent faces high unemployment, weak industrialization, and infrastructure deficits. The report identifies a disconnect between capital availability and its real economic impact, noting that funds are not effectively channeled into productive sectors. Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, stated that the core challenge is not access to capital but its deployment. Africa continues to export raw materials and import finished goods, thereby exporting jobs and importing inflation. The report argues that the issue is a failure of alignment, where existing capital, resources, and markets are not connected to create productive capacity and sustained employment. Financial systems often prioritize low-risk, short-term investments, leaving long-term capital unutilized in critical sectors like infrastructure and industry. The AFC also warns that reliance on external financing is becoming unreliable, emphasizing that Africa must increasingly depend on its own capital. The report calls for a strategic shift from extrac