The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, indicated this at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during a workshop and capacity building for chemicals and waste handlers, held on Tuesday.
The minister, who commended the state government for the initiative, said building the capacity of manufacturers and producers to embrace the principle of cleaner production and chemical management were some of the ways to address the menace.
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The second edition of the Chemical Handlers and Users Workshop was at the instance of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment to intimate stakeholders on the need to safeguard the health of the people and the environment by adopting best practices in chemicals handling and waste management.
The seminar was also attended by the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; members of the State Executive Council; members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria; among other critical stakeholders.
According to the attendees, unchecked handling of waste and chemicals have been responsible for loss of biodiversity, pollution of underground water and increase of non-communicable diseases.
However, they called for the embrace of circular solutions in chemical and waste management to guarantee more efficient production.
