The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has condemned the EU’s proposal to export non-hazardous waste to Nigeria, claiming it would exacerbate the nation’s existing environmental crises. HOMEF argues that allowing waste imports could endanger public health and the environment. They highlight the troubling trend of rich nations offloading waste onto poorer countries under the guise of economic opportunity. Lawrence Summers’ past assertions reflect a longstanding critique of such practices in global waste management.
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a prominent NGO, has criticized the alleged proposal from the European Union (EU) to designate Nigeria as a recipient of non-hazardous waste from member states. According to HOMEF, Nigeria and other African nations are already overwhelmed by e-waste, including outdated computers primarily sourced from countries like China, the United States, and various European nations.
HOMEF regards the EU’s “Request for Inclusion in the List of Countries to Which the Export from the European Union of Non-Hazardous Wastes is Authorized” as an attempt to engage Nigeria in harmful legal waste practices. Currently, Nigeria is grappling with severe environmental challenges, exacerbated by oil extraction, mineral exploitation, plastic pollution, and food contamination. Allowing the importation of waste would be both reckless and harmful to the environment.
Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF’s executive director, expressed concerns over the government’s readiness to sacrifice public health for financial gain. He pointed out that Nigeria’s life expectancy is about 56 years, and its healthcare system is struggling. Thus, seeking to import foreign waste when domestic waste management is inadequate is incomprehensible, he asserted.
HOMEF and other concerned citizens vehemently oppose any plans by the Nigerian government to become a dumping ground for foreign waste. The organization emphasized that wastes classified as non-hazardous could still pose risks due to heavy metal contamination and other toxic substances, urging for a rejection of such dangerous proposals.
The group noted the tendency of affluent nations to commodify waste, enticing poorer countries with the allure of foreign exchange. The EU reported that €18.5 billion worth of waste was exported in 2023, raising questions about the consequences this trade has on recipient countries. The implications of such waste on African nations are disregarded by those profiting from the export.
This situation resonates with past statements from Lawrence Summers, former World Bank Chief Economist, who suggested that Africa’s low pollution levels make it an economical dumping ground for hazardous waste. The reality is that affluent nations frequently transfer their waste issues onto developing countries, treating them as destinations for refuse rather than appreciating their inherent worth.
In the context of escalating geopolitical inequalities, high-consumption countries continue to generate and export waste to regions deemed fit only for disposal, neglecting the detrimental effects on local communities. It calls for urgent action and unity to resist such exploitative practices that jeopardize public health and environmental integrity.
In summary, HOMEF, a Nigerian NGO, has vehemently opposed the EU’s proposal to allow the exportation of non-hazardous waste to Nigeria. This initiative poses a grave threat to an already beleaguered nation struggling with environmental degradation. The organization advocates for greater awareness and resistance against the commodification of waste, emphasizing that even non-hazardous materials can contain harmful substances. Ultimately, comprehensive measures are required to safeguard Nigeria’s environment from foreign exploitation.
Original Source: businessday.ng
