By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
Umuahia– The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has raised alarm over a proposed piece of legislation in Abia State, denouncing it as regressive, anti-poor, and lacking public engagement. The group is calling for the immediate withdrawal and redrafting of the bill titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Polluters Pay Principle and Extended Producer Responsibilities and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.”
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD expressed deep concern about the intention, content, and potential impact of the bill, stating it could turn into a tool for burdening vulnerable populations while letting major industrial polluters off the hook.
“This bill, if passed in its current form, will criminalize poor communities and informal waste generators who are victims of environmental neglect rather than perpetrators,” the group warned.
Key criticisms outlined by FENRAD include:
- Vague Definitions: The bill reportedly fails to clearly define who qualifies as a “polluter” or “producer,” raising fears of arbitrary enforcement.
- Lack of Public Input: FENRAD noted that no public hearings or stakeholder consultations were held before the bill’s introduction, describing this omission as a violation of participatory legislative norms.
- Misuse of Polluter-Pays Principle: Rather than focusing on large corporations and extractive industries, the bill allegedly shifts environmental responsibility to citizens and informal sector players.
- Lack of Implementation Capacity: The group argues that Abia State lacks the institutional and infrastructural readiness to operationalize an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework effectively.
- Negative Impact on the Poor: FENRAD emphasized that the bill threatens to widen social inequality by targeting already marginalized groups.
The organization, which has consistently championed environmental justice and civic rights in Southeast Nigeria, urged the Abia State House of Assembly to withdraw the bill and engage in meaningful consultations with environmental experts, civil society, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
“Environmental justice must be anchored in equity, fairness, and sustainability,” said Comrade Nwafor. “Laws that fail to reflect these principles risk becoming instruments of oppression rather than tools for environmental protection.”
FENRAD stressed its readiness to engage constructively in any process aimed at creating fair and inclusive environmental policy, promising continued monitoring of legislative activities related to environmental and human rights in the state.
Contact Information:
Website: www.fenrad.org.ng
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +234-8033383708, 07062949232
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FULL STATEMENT BELOW
Press Statement
Date: July 28, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Umuahia, Abia State
FENRAD Rejects the Proposed Abia State ‘Polluters Pay Principle and Extended Producer Responsibility Bill’ as Anti-People: A Call for Its Immediate Withdrawal
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) expresses grave concern and unequivocal opposition to the proposed legislation titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Polluters Pay Principle and Extended Producer Responsibilities and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.” After a critical review of the bill, FENRAD finds it regressive, ambiguous, and contrary to the principles of environmental justice and public interest it purports to uphold.
While we recognize the importance of environmental accountability and the global shift towards extended producer responsibility (EPR) and polluter-pays mechanisms as frameworks for sustainable waste management, the current bill — in both its design and intent — lacks transparency, public participation, and clarity. More disturbingly, it appears tailored to transfer the economic burden of environmental remediation and waste management from major industrial polluters to ordinary citizens and vulnerable populations who are often victims, not perpetrators, of environmental degradation.
Key Concerns with the Bill:
1. Lack of Clarity and Definitions:
The bill fails to adequately define who qualifies as a “polluter” or “producer.” In its current form, it leaves too much room for arbitrary interpretation and application, which could unjustly penalize small businesses and low-income communities.
2. Absence of Public Participation:
A bill of such socio-economic and environmental impact must be preceded by public consultations and stakeholder engagements. To our knowledge, no town hall meetings, environmental impact assessments, or civil society consultations were held prior to the drafting or tabling of this bill.
3. Misapplication of Polluter Pays Principle (PPP):
Rather than targeting industrial polluters, extractive companies, and major producers whose operations lead to environmental degradation, the bill risks criminalizing the informal sector and everyday waste generators, particularly in underserved communities.
4. Weaponization of EPR without Institutional Capacity:
Abia State currently lacks the robust waste management infrastructure and institutional oversight required to enforce an Extended Producer Responsibility regime effectively. Without such systems in place, the bill may become a tool for arbitrary taxation or harassment by enforcement agencies.
5. Contradiction with Pro-Poor Environmental Governance:
The bill, if passed into law, will disproportionately affect poor and marginalized groups, potentially exacerbating inequality and undermining ongoing efforts to promote inclusive environmental governance in the state.
Our Call: Immediate Withdrawal and Redrafting
FENRAD calls on the Abia State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the bill in its current form. We urge the lawmakers to adopt a people-centered, participatory approach to environmental legislation by:
- Convening public hearings and multi-stakeholder consultations involving environmental groups, local communities, informal sector representatives, and legal experts.
- Rewriting the bill to reflect clear, just, and enforceable guidelines in line with national and international environmental standards.
- Ensuring that any policy on environmental accountability targets actual corporate polluters and not those at the margins of society.
Environmental justice must be anchored in equity, fairness, and sustainability. Laws that fail to reflect these principles risk becoming instruments of oppression rather than tools for environmental protection.
FENRAD remains committed to advancing environmental rights and will continue to monitor and engage in the legislative processes that impact ecological and human well-being in Abia State and beyond.
Signed,
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD)
Website: www.fenrad.org.ng
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +234-8033383708, 07062949232
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