Experts have warned that Nigeria may face a worsening public health crisis if urgent measures are not taken to tackle the country’s growing plastic waste problem.
A Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Stephen Ochigbo, raised the concern during the 2026 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week organised by the American Chemical Society Nigeria Chapter.
He said the rising volume of plastic waste, driven by poor disposal systems and heavy reliance on single-use packaging, poses significant environmental and health risks.
“Plastic pollution refers to the hazards arising from the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste in the environment. The situation is worsening rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria,” Ochigbo warned.
He noted that over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually in Nigeria, with more than 70 per cent ending up in landfills and water bodies, exposing communities to pollution-related diseases.
“Lagos alone records between 50 and 60 million discarded water sachets daily,” the don added.
Citing global trends, Ochigbo said plastic waste is spiralling across Africa faster than in any other region, with projections indicating the continent could generate 116 million tonnes by 2060 if unchecked.
He warned that plastics persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contaminating water sources, clogging drainage systems, and contributing to flooding and disease outbreaks.
“The most significant source of plastic pollution is inadequate collection and disposal of macroplastics, while microplastics leak from industrial pellets, textiles, and tyre wear,” Ochigbo explained.
The don added that many plastics used in the region are non-biodegradable and petroleum-based, making them particularly harmful to ecosystems and human health.
He linked the crisis to broader environmental degradation, quoting economist Rich Gower as saying, “The signs of environmental breakdown are all around us.”
The don stressed that beyond environmental damage, plastic waste worsens health outcomes by contaminating water and food systems, increasing vulnerability to diseases.
Ochigbo, however, urged chemists and researchers to develop sustainable solutions, particularly biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics.
“Chemists should see the situation as an impetus to research biodegradable alternatives,” he said, noting that materials such as cellulose, starch, and proteins could be used for eco-friendly packaging.
According to him, these materials can serve as viable substitutes while reducing long-term environmental and health risks.
Ochigbo also called for stronger waste management systems, stricter policy enforcement, and increased public awareness to curb indiscriminate disposal.
“All of these environmental issues make it impossible to achieve environmental sustainability,” he said, urging collective action,” he added.
The don further called on scientists to address Nigeria’s worsening water crisis by developing innovative methods to convert polluted water into safe drinking water.
He warned that increasing pollution, poor sanitation, and climate change are reducing access to clean water, leaving millions at risk.
“As a result of inadequate management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater, safe drinking water remains out of reach for many,” the professor said.
He added that many water sources have been contaminated by crude oil exploration, open defecation, and mining activities, while climate change continues to dry up traditional sources.
Ochigbo noted that limited access to safe water forces many Nigerians to rely on unsafe alternatives, increasing health risks, and called for increased investment in research and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve water purification and access.
Also speaking, a public health systems specialist, Dr Jimlas Ogunsakin, warned that poor waste management is already fuelling disease outbreaks in densely populated cities like Lagos.
He said indiscriminate waste disposal contaminates water sources and sustains outbreaks of cholera and typhoid.
“Proper waste disposal and drain clearance can reduce the contamination driving these disease cycles,” the expert said.
Ogunsakin, the Chief Executive Officer of South Atlantic Health Systems, Abuja, also linked plastic waste to worsening flooding caused by blocked drainage systems.
He called for structural reforms, including expanding sewerage systems, constructing engineered landfills, upgrading informal settlements, and enforcing urban planning laws.
Ogunsakin added that sustained funding, stronger governance, and public health education are critical to addressing the crisis.
“A functional sanitation system must be built on shared responsibility between government and residents,” he said.