Metro

FBRA expresses commitment to plastic waste control regulation

Published

2 months ago

July 29, 2023

The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has expressed commitment to the Federal Government on review of the draft plastic waste control regulation.

Ms Araghase Onaghise, Executive Secretary, FBRA, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a Stakeholders Consultation on review of the Plastic Waste Control Regulation in Lagos.

FBRA was set up as a Producer Responsibility Organisation to manage the activities for post-consumer packaging on behalf of 31-member families and industry.

Onaghise said that the stakeholders consultation looked at the effect of plastics that were not managed properly in the environment.

According to her, the plastic waste control regulation is identifying some single use plastics that will be ban in July 2025.

“We are committed to working with the government to ensure that this regulation is very robust, is applicable in Nigeria, and is sustainable over time.

“So, it doesn’t have a negative impact on the industry and on the consumers so that we can all work together and ensure that we have a regulation that can be implementable,” she said.

Onaghise said that based on the review already done internally, FBRA was pushing for proper and adequate stakeholders engagement and alignment before a regulation could be put out or finalised.

“The reason for that is, if some single used plastics are banned, what are the alternatives?

“Yes, there may be ready alternatives in other climes but are they readily available and applicable in Nigeria?

“So we need to also make this applicable in Nigeria because Nigeria is a very different scenario.

“Do we have the adequate infrastructure to support this ban? Because we know that if you look at sustainability, it needs to have economic, environmental and social benefits,” she said.

The Executive Secretary said that implementation of the regulation needed to be done in a phased way.

“Such that each stakeholder specific to the material that is going to be banned should be carried along to ensure that they can have a just transition and put systems in place before a total ban can come into place,” Onaghise said.

NAN reports that FBRA currently has a total of 31-member companies, from food, beverage and tobacco industry.

Related Topics:Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA)

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LASTMA, others combat Ilupeju industrial fire outbreak

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders at early hour on Saturday combated an industrial fire outbreak at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass.

Mr Taofiq Adebayo, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.

Adebayo stated that the industrial fire outbreak took place at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass beside Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ilupeju area of Lagos.

“The Traffic Officer of LASTMA, Mr Ayo Olaosebikan (Falcon) of Zone 21, confirmed that LASTMA rescue team arrived at the scene of the industrial fire outbreak around at 6:30a.m. before other emergency responders were contacted by LASTMA.

“Immediately we arrived at the scene of the industrial fire, we quickly informed other emergency responders particularly the Lagos State Fire, Rescue Services and the Nigerian Police.

“The causes of industrial fire could not be immediately ascertained, he said.
Olaosebikan noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the storage and factory section of the petrochemical company were seriously affected by the fire outbreak.

According to him, emergency responders on ground include Federal and State Fire Services, policemen and LASTMA Response Unit.

Olaosebikan said that neither injury nor death had been recorded.

Headline

NGO takes free medical outreach to Plateau community

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

GDG Wellness Initiative, an NGO, on Saturday offered free medical services to no fewer than 400 indigent persons in Gyel community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

Mr Gyang Dung-Gyang, founder of the initiative told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exercise was his little way of giving back to the society that made him.

He said that he was spurred by the plight of the people and the urgent need to reach out to them, in view of the current economic realities and its implications on their health.

Dung-Gyang said that he had been organising such outreaches annually, adding that the current hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had made this year’s outing unique.

“It’s my heart desire and passion to reach out to the vulnerable and the needy in the society.

“And it’s not just this, we have been able to give scholarship to some students, with some already graduates.

“Today, we have planned to treat a minimum of 400 persons but from the way it is going, it may exceed that number,” he stated.

The outreach Team Lead, Mr Pam Chong, listed some of the medical services to include testing and treatment of patients for aliments such as malaria, hepatitis B & C, high blood pressure, diabetes among others.

Chong, a pharmacist, told NAN that the medical team comprised of doctors, nurses, lab scientists and pharmacists.
He said cases that they were unable to handle would be referred to hospitals that could handle them.

The team lead said that they have sufficient drugs to treat over 400 patients.

Mr Ishaya Pam, Vice President, Gyel Development Association of Jos South LGA, lauded GDG Wellness for the gesture, which he believed would improve the health and wellbeing of the people.
Pam prayed God to bless the organisers of the outreach to continue to impact the lives of the less privileged.