The House of Representatives has called for the adoption of cleaner and safer waste disposal methods to curb the outbreaks of infections and the spread of communicable diseases in the country.
The House tasked all government environmental protection agencies with ensuring the proper enforcement of laws and regulations.
This call followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Julius Pondi (PDP-Delta) at the plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.
While moving the motion, Pondi highlighted the recurring negative impacts of ineffective waste disposal practices on the health of citizens in communities and locations where oil and gas activities were conducted.
He pointed out that citizens faced challenges in controlling and managing waste disposal in these areas.
Pondi also noted that utilising production effluents in the manufacturing industries, as well as in the oil and gas sectors, presented significant difficulties.
He identified hazardous waste discharges from manufacturing industries and ongoing gas flaring as major components of environmental pollution.
“Other pollution sources include crude and refined oil spills, often seen in the Niger Delta region, alongside domestic waste disposal issues.
“In spite of numerous laws and regulations on waste management across the country, there are still significant gaps and lapses in the control and management of industrial and domestic waste.
“This has led to serious health challenges, environmental degradation, loss of agricultural productivity, and deterioration of the nation’s ecosystem, particularly in the coastal regions,” Pondi said.
The House called on oil companies, manufacturers, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to adopt methods that would help contain the outbreaks of infections.
The House further urged the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
In addition, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) were also urged to ensure stricter enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
In his ruling, Speaker Rep. Tajudeen Abbas mandated the Committee on Environment to conduct a comprehensive survey of environmental pollution around major industries.
Abbas directed the committee to evaluate compliance with pollution laws and regulations and provide a report within four weeks for further legislative action.