As part of activities marking World Environment Day 2025, the Cross River State Government has called on residents and stakeholders to join the global campaign to end plastic pollution, reaffirming its commitment to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable state.

Speaking during a commemorative event held on Thursday at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, decried the environmental damage caused by the widespread use and improper disposal of single-use plastics.

He cited increased flooding, soil degradation, public health risks, and the defacement of both urban and rural landscapes as major consequences of plastic waste.

“The campaign to end plastic pollution is not only achievable—it is necessary. It requires a multi-dimensional strategy and the active involvement of every citizen,” the governor said.

Otu outlined key government interventions, including the review of environmental regulations to strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping and open burning of plastic waste. He also highlighted initiatives encouraging eco-friendly alternatives in markets and public institutions.

Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Ovat Agbor, in his goodwill message, stressed that environmental degradation is a major global concern and commended the state government for prioritizing environmental stewardship. “Sustainability is a shared responsibility,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Eyo Orok Edet of the University of Calabar warned of the growing threat plastic waste poses to ecosystems and called for investment in waste management infrastructure to address the crisis.

In a highlight of the event, the University of Cross River State emerged winner of the tertiary institution competition on plastic pollution, followed by the University of Calabar and Arthur Jarvis University. In the secondary school category, Hope Waddell Training Institution clinched first place, ahead of Federal Government Girls’ College and University of Calabar International Demonstration School.

The event also featured exhibitions of recycled materials by schools and NGOs, cultural performances, and a playlet. Mr. Sonigitu Ekpe, Director of Ecology and Biodiversity, delivered an informative lecture on the environmental hazards of Styrofoam.

This year’s World Environment Day, themed “Ending Plastic Pollution Globally,” seeks to inspire lasting solutions to the plastic waste crisis.