House of Reps Set to Criminalise Use of Plastic Bags
The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a report on a Bill for an Act to, among other things, prohibit the use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags for commercial and household packaging.
The report was adopted at the Committee of Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun.
The bill seeks to address the harmful effects of plastic bags on the oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, wildlife as well as human beings when passed into law.
The bill which has been passed by the Senate was presented to the house by Honourable Mohammed Monguno.
According to the report tendered, it recommended that retailers of goods shall offer paper bags to customers at the point of sale in place of plastic bags or be guilty of an offence when the bill is passed into law. It stated that a person who manufactures plastic bags for the purpose of selling would be guilty of an offence.
The report also stated that a person who imports plastic bag for sale or carryout bag is equally guilty of an offence.
“Anybody person found guilty shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not exceeding N500,000 or a jail term not exceeding three years or both,” it recommended.
The also say that any organisation found guilty shall be liable upon conviction to a fine, not more than N5 million.
Monguno, while presenting the report said that the bill seeks to relieve pressure on landfills and waste management. He said that the use of plastic bags is rampant and that the bags are not biodegradable.
Monguno said that the bags stay in the environment for hundreds of years and affect arable land, water bodies and wildlife.
Lassun who presided over the meeting observed that the bill should create room for recycling of plastic bags.
According to him, as the bill stands, when passed into law, it would mean that plastic bags would not be seen again in the country.
The bill would now be listed for the third reading on a later date after which it would be sent to the President for assent.
