Ado-Ekiti: The Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye, announced that the Assembly is preparing to pass legislation aimed at banning single-use plastics. This legislative move is intended to tackle environmental issues such as flooding and plastic pollution in Ekiti State. The announcement was made during a pre-legislative stakeholders' engagement workshop focusing on plastic pollution.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop was organized by the Triple Green Environmental Development (TGED) Foundation in collaboration with the Assembly's Committee on Environment. Speaker Aribasoye disclosed that the bill has already passed its first reading and assured that it would receive expedited consideration for the governor's approval. The aim is to mitigate the pollution caused by the indiscriminate disposal of plastics.

The Chief Executive Officer of TGED Foundation, Seyi Ebenezer, emphasized the importance of the forum, themed 'Towards a Plastic-Free Ekiti Building Consensus for Legislative Action'. She highlighted the environmental risks associated with plastic use and urged stakeholders to promote alternatives to single-use plastics in their communities.

Mrs. Iyabode Fakunle-Okeimen, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, underscored the necessity of the ban. Meanwhile, a guest speaker from Ekiti State University, Prof. Wole Adebayo, delivered a presentation on the impact of plastic pollution, noting its environmental, health, and economic consequences. He advocated for greater awareness and suggested that used plastics could be repurposed into valuable products through recycling.

In a goodwill message, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of Ekiti State Tourism Board, supported the ban, citing health risks such as terminal illnesses linked to single-use plastics. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that stakeholders, including market women, artisans, hoteliers, and environmentalists, participated in the workshop. They stressed the need for proper disposal channels for plastics to prevent drain blockage and flooding.

The stakeholders also urged the government to view plastics as a resource, suggesting that buying used plastics from the public could help reduce street litter and protect the environment.