The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) opposes the EU’s reported proposal to dump non-hazardous waste in Nigeria, highlighting the country’s existing environmental issues. They argue that importing such waste is ecologically irresponsible and a form of waste colonialism. HOMEF’s executive director condemned the plan as detrimental to Nigeria, emphasizing the need for robust environmental protections.
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a notable non-governmental organization, has expressed strong opposition to the European Union’s (EU) reported proposal to classify Nigeria as a destination for the dumping of non-hazardous waste. HOMEF alleges that Nigeria and other African nations have become dumping grounds for obsolete electronics and e-waste primarily sourced from countries such as China, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, the UAE, and Morocco.
Focusing on the ramifications of the EU’s request, HOMEF criticized it as an attempt to lure nations like Nigeria into what they term “systemic legal waste colonialism,” highlighting the serious environmental challenges the country is currently facing. These challenges encompass pollution from oil and gas extraction, mining activities, plastic waste, and genetic pollution in food. The organization argues that amidst these pressing issues, consent to import any form of waste is ecologically harmful and imprudent.
Nnimmo Bassey, the executive director of HOMEF, underscored the absurdity of Nigeria seeking to import foreign waste when it already struggles with extensive domestic waste management. He remarked, “It is inconceivable that a nation with a life expectancy of about 56 years and a broken healthcare delivery system would succumb to the level of begging to import someone else’s waste.”
The group further condemns the Nigerian government’s potential agreement to allow other nations to treat Nigeria or any African country as a waste dumping site. They assert that even materials classified as non-hazardous often harbor hazardous components that can harm the environment and human health. They reiterated their strong opposition to any move to import waste into Nigeria under any pretext.
HOMEF posits that affluent nations typically commodify waste, enticing economically vulnerable countries into accepting it for financial gain. This perspective is supported by the EU’s report revealing that €18.5 billion worth of waste was exported from Europe in 2023. The implications of this practice on the recipient countries, however, remain unaddressed by those profiting from such trades.
Aligning with the controversial views of Lawrence Summers, the former Chief Economist of the World Bank, HOMEF criticized the notion that Africa is under-polluted and thus a suitable destination for disposing of toxic waste. Summers suggested that economic reasoning supports the relocation of polluting industries to least developed countries, which compounds the ethical concerns surrounding such practices.
In conclusion, HOMEF’s stance exemplifies a growing concern over the environmental integrity and health of Nigeria. It draws attention to the broader implications of waste dumping on countries with less resilience and resourcefulness in managing the ramifications of such environmental hazards. The organization calls for robust measures to protect the nation from becoming a repository for foreign waste.
In summary, HOMEF firmly rejects the European Union’s proposal for Nigeria to accept non-hazardous waste, which it regards as part of a harmful trend of waste colonialism. The organization highlights Nigeria’s existing environmental challenges and preemptively criticizes the dangers of importing waste, regardless of its classification. By emphasizing the ethical and health implications of such practices, HOMEF urges Nigeria to safeguard its environmental and public health interests.
Original Source: businessday.ng
