The Nigerian Conservation Foundation NCF has called for stronger national action and increased funding to address the escalating problem of plastic pollution. The appeal was made at the 2025 NCF Green Ball in Lagos. Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, representing the Board of Trustees President, stressed that plastic waste threatens the environment, waterways, marine life, and human health.
He explained that the fundraising event is one of the foundation’s vital platforms for supporting its conservation agenda. The Green Ball, the annual memorial lecture, and the Walk for Nature rely on sponsorship and donor support. She recognised long-standing partners, including corporate bodies, institutions, and individual supporters, for helping sustain NCF projects.
Speaking on the theme “Raising Finance to Beat Plastic Pollution,” Adebiyi highlighted troubling global figures. The world produces about 400 million tonnes of plastic annually. She noted that over one million tonnes of plastic are discarded daily, with half poorly managed. About one to two million tonnes enter oceans yearly. Lagos contributes around 13,000 tonnes of daily waste, with plastic forming up to 20 percent.
She urges participants to pay attention to the presentation on the crisis. Ignoring the issue could lead to devastating environmental consequences. She encouraged practical solutions including reducing single use plastics, sorting waste, supporting legislation, and joining community clean–ups.
Adebiyi acknowledged that recycling remains essential but often difficult and costly. She urges Nigerians to adopt mindful consumption and personal responsibility. Pollution management forms a core focus of NCF’s 2025–2030 strategy. She thanked partners, executives, and supporters for advancing the organisation’s vision and preserving its environmental legacy.
