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The Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, which is part of the World Bank's Community Innovation Centres and a member of the Climate Bus Innovation Network, has expressed concerns over the potential impact of the proposed 10 per cent green tax on single-use plastics in Nigeria.
They believe that this tax could lead to increased pricing for consumers and households, affecting production and consumption.
According to the centre, green taxation is a policy tool used by governments to encourage sustainable behaviour by imposing taxes and fees on activities that harm the environment.
They suggested that embracing circular economy principles could help enhance economic resilience, reduce dependency on finite resources, and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns in the country.
In a new report titled, 'Positioning Plastic Waste Recycling as an Inclusive Catalyst for Unlocking a Sustainable Circular Economy in Nigeria,' NCIC advocated a shift towards a circular economy as a more viable alternative to the government's proposed green taxation model for single-use plastics.
The report explores the potential of a circular economy for plastic waste management in Nigeria, highlighting the limitations of green taxation and presenting the circular economy as a more comprehensive and transformative solution.
NCIC's Chief Operating Officer, Adamu Garba, unveiled the report in Lagos, emphasizing that plastic waste has become a critical environmental concern in Nigeria due to rapid population growth and urbanization.
This has led to plastic waste posing a serious threat to public health, ecosystems, and the overall well-being of Nigerians.
While acknowledging the increasing popularity of green taxes as a regulatory mechanism, NCIC argued that green taxes have limitations. Instead, they proposed a circular economy model that prioritizes resource efficiency.
