The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the state government to ban Styrofoam and foil paper for packaging food in the state.
The Assembly said that this call is in a bid to safeguard public health and promote environmentally friendly practices.
Some states, including Lagos, have already placed bans on the materials.
The lawmakers made the call during their plenary session yesterday on the floor of the Assembly, expressing concerns over the potential health risks associated with using foil materials.
The legislators said that these materials are usually exposed to high temperatures.
They want the state government to mandate the Environmental Task Force Agency to enforce the ban.
Member representing Yala 2 State Constituency, Hon. Ogiji Martins Achadu, sponsored the motion at the plenary, which the Assembly adopted.
In the motion, Achadu noted that Styrofoam, a lightweight plastic material commonly used for food packaging and disposable containers, is made from polystyrene, a petroleum-based product which is hazardous to health.
“When exposed to heat or used for food packaging, Styrofoam releases styrene, a toxic chemical that can leach into food. Long-term exposure to styrene has been linked to neurological issues, respiratory problems, and hormonal disruption,” Achadu emphasized.
The legislator further explained that Styrofoam paper is non-biodegradable, negatively affects pollution and waste management, and harms both land and marine ecosystems.
“The lives of Cross Riverians are the number one priority of His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu. That is why we must curb anything that will negatively impact the health and environment of the citizens,” he said.
The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, thanked the sponsor of the motion as well as the other members for their commitment to improving the well-being of the citizens through people-friendly legislation.
