By Peter.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), backed by the Ford Foundation, has thrown down a bold challenge to the Federal Government: Make it law that every kobo supermarkets charge for plastic bags must go straight into a national climate-financing pool.
Speaking at the Youth-Focused Climate Event in Ibeju-Lekki, NCF Director-General Dr Joseph Onoja (represented by Programme Development Manager Joshua Danzi) said:
“These charges are already happening in Shoprite, Spar, Justrite, restaurants, everywhere. But right now the money just disappears into private pockets. That money belongs to Nigeria’s future. It must be ring-fenced for tree planting, mangrove restoration, flood defences, and plastic recycling plants.”
Why This Idea Is Genius
- Nigerians buy billions of single-use plastic bags yearly. Even a modest ₦50 charge adds up fast.
- If just 50 major supermarket chains collect ₦50 per bag and remit it, that’s potentially tens of billions of naira annually — with zero new taxes.
- Funds can seed community reforestation, solar mini-grids in flood-prone areas, and youth-led recycling hubs.
Onoja reminded the government:
“We signed the Paris Agreement. Every policy, even small ones like plastic-bag fees, must now serve the climate goal.”
The Bigger Picture: Plastic Pollution Is Eating Nigeria Alive
- Lagos alone generates 13,000 tonnes of waste daily — most of it plastic that blocks drains and causes flooding.
- Coastal communities in Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, and the Niger Delta are losing land to erosion worsened by plastic-choked waterways.
- Farmers are seeing lower yields from heatwaves and erratic rainfall — issues directly linked to global emissions.
Youth Voices Stole the Show
The event, part of Ford Foundation’s 65th anniversary, turned into a full-throated youth climate rally:
- Kasheen Abdulrasheed (Community Junior High School): “We can’t wait for adults. We must stop plastic at the source.”
- Elizabeth Lawal (Magbon Alade): “Ban open burning, save our forests, jail illegal loggers!”
- Students from Refiners School staged “The Cry of the Waters” — a drama showing how plastic is killing fish and drowning communities.
The Ask Is Simple
- Federal law mandating 100 % of plastic-bag charges go into a National Climate & Environment Trust Fund.
- Independent board (NCF, NESREA youth reps) to oversee transparent spending.
- Annual public report: “Your ₦50 bag fee planted 10,000 mangroves in Lekki.”
It’s not rocket science. It’s common sense on steroids.
Supermarkets are already charging us. Now make that money save the planet.
Who’s with NCF and the kids of Ibeju-Lekki?
#PlasticBagTaxForClimate #NigeriaClimateAction #NCFxFordFoundation #YouthClimateJustice #LagosGreenFuture
