- The House directed its Committee on Environment to survey pollution levels and review compliance with waste management laws nationwide.
- The committee must submit its findings within four weeks for further legislative consideration and possible regulatory action.
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to enhance waste management policies to tackle increasing environmental pollution and its related health hazards nationwide.
This resolution came after the adoption of a motion presented by Julius Pondi, the representative of Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State, during Tuesday’s plenary session in Abuja.
While introducing the motion titled “Waste Pollution and the Management of Its Impacts on Health and Environment,” Pondi expressed concerns about the worsening waste disposal crisis in Nigeria, especially within the oil, gas, and manufacturing sectors.
He pointed out that poor waste disposal methods continued to pose significant risks to human lives, particularly in communities where industries operate.
“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.
Pondi also identified major sources of environmental pollution, such as toxic industrial waste, continuous gas flaring, crude and refined oil spills—especially in the Niger Delta—and poor household waste management.
Although environmental protection laws exist, the lawmaker noted enforcement gaps, cautioning that failure to address waste issues could result in serious health crises, reduced agricultural productivity, and environmental damage, particularly in coastal regions.
With broad support for the motion, 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 intensify enforcement of environmental policies for a cleaner, healthier nation.
It further encouraged state and local governments to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that oil firms, manufacturers, and small businesses adopt environmentally friendly waste disposal techniques to prevent disease outbreaks.
Additionally, the House instructed its Committee on Environment to carry out a national study to determine the extent of environmental pollution and assess compliance with current waste management laws.
The committee has been directed to present its findings within four weeks for necessary legislative considerations.