Adebayo Adenrele
Stakeholders in Ekiti State have pushed for stricter punishment and penalties for plastic pollution offenders across the 16 local government areas of the state.
This was part of the agreement reached at the end of the pre-legislative stakeholder workshop on the plastic regulation bill in Ekiti State.
At the programme convened by Triple Green Environmental Development (TGED) Foundation, the stakeholders emphasized on the harmful effect of single use plastic, saying it contributes to pollution and is extremely dangerous to health.
In his remarks, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Stephen Aribasoye revealed that the bill has scaled first reading with a pledge to accelerate the hearing for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s assent.
Aribasoye, who emphasised the need for urgent action on single-use plastics in Ekiti, commended the forum as a platform for finding sustainable alternatives.
In her address of welcome, TGED Convener, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi emphasized the urgency for action and the importance of the forum in bringing all relevant stakeholders together to share their thoughts and support for the passage of a bill to ban single-use plastics in the state.
She added the workshop was to facilitate the community into the proposed single-use plastics regulation bill and identity policy gaps and opportunities for effective implementation.
The DG, Bureau of Tourism in Ekiti State, Lanre Wale Ojo, pledged to support the bill by raising awareness in markers and restaurants.
Other stakeholders at the workshop include: Technical Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Green Economy and Ecological Matters, Dr Akinyemi Akinyugba, Deputy VC of EKSU, Professor Wole Adebayo, The Ekiti State NOA Director, Oluwakemi Akomolede, among others.
