Lagos- An expert in environmental protection, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, on Thursday called for redesigning of electronic gadgets to reduce e-waste.
Osinbajo, the Executive Director, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the African Region (BCCC-Africa), made the call at a workshop in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was on the Persons in the Port (PIP) Project.
It was organised by the United Nations University (UNU)/Solving the E-Waste Problem, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Osibanjo said that e-waste could be reduced through recycling of waste.
“Electronics need to be redesigned so that we do not need to throw away an old thing but replace a bad part to enable it to continue to function.
“We can also go for green redesigning for re-use to make the product to last longer and serve better.
“The best way to manage electronics is to repair, refurbish and re-use,’’ the director said.
He noted that electronic gadgets had short life span, adding that it was a reason for increase in e-waste.
The expert suggested that the Federal Government should introduce regulations and advocacy to reduce e-wastes.
“The government should ensure that producers of electronics must have a take-back system and have programmes for re-use and refurbishing of products sold.
“They must also provide e-waste collection centres for recyclers, with guidelines and monitoring,’’ he said.
In her keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Lawrentia Mallam, said that the workshop was aimed at gathering information on how to tackle importation of Used Electrical Equipment (UEEE) and Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment into Nigeria.
She was represented by a director in the Ministry, Dr Idris Goji.
The minister expressed optimism that the workshop would assist in getting appropriate data to strengthen national policies on importation.
According to Mallam, the data would assist in curbing dumping of e-waste in Nigeria.
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“Dumping of e-waste in Nigeria and improper management practices are well publicised by international media, showing Nigeria as a dumping ground for used and unserviceable electrical and electronic equipment.
“If e-waste is adequately managed in Nigeria, more than 50 per cent of problems associated with it would have been solved,’’ she said.
She said that the ministry had developed a draft policy and prepared guidelines and a strategic action plan on the management of e-waste.
She also said that e-waste management regulations had been prepared by the National Environmental Standard Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
“The regulations have been approved and are in force,’’ Mallam said. (NAN)
