Why Nigerians must care about plastics
According to Nigeria plastprintpack, Nigeria ́s plastic consumption was at 1.148kt in 2017. What does this mean? Let me break it down a bit. I simply went on google convert to find out what kt meant (kiloton) and exactly how much a kiloton in simple english was.
1 Kilotonne: 1 Kilotonne or metric kiloton (unit of mass) is equal to 1000 metric tons. A metric ton is exactly 1000 kilograms (SI base unit) making a kilotonne equal to 1000000 kilograms. 1 kt = 1000000 kg.
In other words, 1kt is the same as 1 million kilograms, can you imagine that? No? Me neither. The mind blowing thing though is when you convert the 1.148kt that Nigeria plastprintpack said to kilograms. Nigeria plastic consumption is one billion, one hundred and forty eight million kilograms. Just pause and think about that. Now continue.
Nigeria’s population according to the world population review is now around 202 million people. This can mean two things, that we need to start educating every single person about plastic consumption or we just stop importing more plastics. As citizens from the country, we know that the Government would not pay so much attention on plastic when they have not even focused on basic needs. This brings the dilemma of plastic in Nigeria. Nigeria is so scattered with different issues that the future needs of the country are sidelined.
Plastic waste must be treated with so much concern because there are so many things it affects. You know the gutter in that market close to your house that is always blocked? What do you think causes it? You think Lagos beach is polluted now? Wait till the next ten years. If you have ever walked past at least ten streets in any state or city in Nigeria, you would notice that we just don’t care about plastics. We have grown up to believe that it has no consequences.
This is where we must change our attitudes. The future — whatever this has now been defined in Nigeria — is begging us to stop using plastics or at least reuse it well. We are the second largest plastic technology importers in the continent after South Africa, and we are growing.
When the whole world is becoming more sustainable, we are literally giving environmental pollution huge thumbs up, welcoming it with a banquet. Even China with 1.4 billion people have started taking cautions against plastic importation. We need to reduce our plastic production so that the 200 million new Nigerians expected to be born from now till 2050 will be able to recognize that we care and live in a better Nigeria.
What are the practical ways you as a single Nigerian can bring about change and reduce this insane amount of plastic consumption?
#1 Stop buying pure water (sachet water) or bottled water.
Buy a water bottle that you can use till the day you die (you get the point). Get one for your children and every member of your family. This is an investment that Nigeria’s future would definitely thank you for. For your homes, buy dispenser water instead so that there would be no need to buy bottled water or sachet water. Apart from the reusable advantage, dispenser water is cleaner and better.
#2 When you are going shopping for food, use reusable shopping bags.
Stop collecting your okra or pineapples in plastic bags, there is no need for that anymore. Reusable bags are so much better. In case you are not aware of what those are (I personally did not know too so do not be ashamed), they are like the ones below. As a Nigerian, you cannot tell me you have never seen them- all wedding parties give them. Besides they would not cost more than 500 Naira. Do our future that small sacrifice, please.
#3 Learn to cook more at home.
This has two advantages, one — you are saving money and two — you are avoiding plastic use. When you eat out, the eatery is most likely going to put your food inside a plastic takeaway with plastic cutlery. Just eat at home or take your own food container.
Not using plastic is not as hard as we think it is. Obviously it would be nearly impossible to eradicate plastic in Nigeria completely (but Nigeria is the land of possibilities), but every little effort you make counts. You do not need to be given a virtual proof that it counts, just know that it does.
Big changes start through very little things done by one person.
