The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to prohibit the use of styrofoam throughout Nigeria.
The lower house passed the resolution on Wednesday, after a proposal by Ibrahim Shagaya.
It should be noted that the Lagos State government has prohibited the usage of styrofoam material inside the state.
Shagaya stated in the motion that the usage of styrofoam and single-use plastics in Nigeria creates major environmental and public health problems, such as water, soil, and air pollution.
He said that “the chemical found in styrofoam is linked to health issues, such as cancer, vision and hearing loss, impaired memory and concentration, and nervous system effects.” As a result, the House agreed to encourage the Federal Government to prohibit styrofoam and single-use plastics from being produced, imported, distributed, or used in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the House requested that the Federal Government take a phased approach to the prohibition, giving businesses and sectors the time to migrate to more environmentally friendly products and methods.
