A coalition of environmental rights groups, on Tuesday, expressed disappointment over the recent suspension of Green Taxation on Single-Use Plastics by the Federal Government.

The coalition comprises Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and member organizations of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)

According to a statement signed by Elvira Jordan, Communication Officer for the coalition, suspension of the tax would make Nigeria a dumping ground for plastic waste products.

The reaction followed the recent announcement by the Federal Government suspending the Green Taxation which imposes an Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, including containers and bottles.

The group noted that the suspension was supposedly in line with the current administration's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment.

The tax on single-use-plastics was part of the government's efforts to address the growing concern over the impact of plastic waste on the ecosystem.

The statement quoted Executive Director of ERA/ FoEN, Chima Williams, as saying that the new development will only bring to fruition, the 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 would put an end to the invasion of plastic on our oceans and water bodies, not promoting policies and laws that increases the production of more plastic.

“At a time like this when the world is set on improving the consciousness of the public on the need to end the use of plastic, it is unfortunate that our President is increasing the importance of plastic products, when Nigeria is being ravaged by a plastic tsunami.

“Nigeria is supposed to be signing a law that promotes the phase out of plastic.

“This suspension may seem that the government is not committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on the reduction of the impact of climate change from the waste sector,” Williams said.

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

Also ERA/FoEN Project Officer, Waste Management, Melody Enyinnaya, stated that green taxations were eco/environmental tax, foisted on activities that pollute the environment, as Single-Used Plastics (SUPs) have become major pollutants of the environment.

According to her, Green taxation on SUPs incorporates the negative expanse of the adverse effects of SUPs on the environment.

She said the idea of green taxes was to increase production costs for corporations, thereby bringing about higher prices on plastics, which would have the effect of discouraging consumers from purchasing them, further reducing their pollution rate on the environment.

"The key implication here is that this suspension will impede the efforts in reducing SUPs pollution, especially for a country like Nigeria that do not have effective policies guiding SUPs production, consumption and disposal.

"The government should revisit the suspension of green taxation, while considering the environmental and health implications of such polices at heart,” Enyinnaya said.

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.

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