Metro
ERA, Others Want Coca Cola, Others Held Accountable For Plastic Pollution

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the Edo State government to compel Coca Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and other producers of plastic to engage in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by taking responsibility of the plastic waste they produce.
This demand was the highpoint of a Return-To-Sender Action organised by ERA/FoEN on Thursday, September 28, 2023, in Benin City, as an extended action of a Brand Audit Exercise in four different markets in Benin.
The event was held in collaboration with Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZEWA); Edo Civil Society Organization (EdOCSO) and Students Environmental Assembly of Nigeria (SEAN), University of Benin Chapter.
READ ALSO: Gas Flaring: Edo Oil Producing Community Demands N500bn Compensation, Threatens Eviction
INFO DAILY reports that the exercise was targeted at determining the highest polluting brands, and at the end, it was discovered that Coca Cola and Seven Up were the highest polluters, with a frequency rate of 33% and 23% respectively.
The exercise involved the collection of discarded plastic bottles which were returned to Coca Cola and Seven Up facilities in Benin City.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams, represented by Babawale Obayanju stated that the flooding experienced in Benin City and its environs is aggravated by the plastic waste materials that have found their way to the drainage systems and water ways.
READ ALSO: Zero Waste: All Hands Must Be On Deck – Says Environmental activist
He added that statistics clearly show that the identified companies are making lots of money and are equally contributing heavily to the plastic waste menace in Benin, without any waste management systems in place.
“We brought their plastic waste back to them as it is polluting our environment and based on our findings during the brand audit, the Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and others primarily use plastics for their packaging, including PET bottles with plastic caps.
“It is very crucial for these companies to design and develop a take-back or withdrawal scheme for their products as there are no active withdrawal schemes currently in place. Implementing the take-back/withdrawal schemes and exploring circular economy models can enhance recycling rates and reduce plastic pollution.”
“We also request that The Coca-Cola Company and the other brands should have a squint at further research and development into eco-friendly packaging materials, collaborate with recycling partners, and engage with consumers to achieve its plastic reduction targets and contribute to a cleaner environment”, he stated.
READ ALSO: CSOs Visit Delta Ministry Of Environment, Wants End To Plastic Pollution, Open Waste Dumping
He called on Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up, CWAY Group and others to transition to sustainable packaging alternatives such as biodegradable materials, reusable containers, or reduced plastic packaging
Also speaking during the action, Project Officer, Waste Management of ERA/FoEN, Melody Enyinnaya stated that the plastic pollution experienced in Benin City is appalling because manufacturers produce without retrieving their waste.
This, according to her, has thrown the environment into a dumping ground for plastics especially drainage systems and our rivers.
She demanded that coca cola, Seven Up and all other manufacturers should withdraw their plastics waste from the environment, saying fishes are needed in the rivers and not plastics.
She admonished them to participate in recycling programmes and encourage customers/consumers to recycle their products’ waste as all the waste materials found during the brand audit are all recyclables.
She also urged them to engage in awareness campaigns to educate consumers about plastic pollution and the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
The Brand Audit and Return-To-Sender exercise was organised to hold plastic producers accountable for the waste they produce, to draw attention to the dangers of plastic waste in the environment, and to call on producers to replace single use plastics with reusable or biodegradable plastics.
Metro
My Husband Started Coming Home Late, Dated Other Women After He Bought BMW

Kabushi Local Government, Zambia, has heard how a married man changed after buying a BMW vehicle as it gave him confidence to go after other women.
In this case, Veronica Chiluya 30, , sued Sammy Shapi, 40, for divorce due to marital disputes.
Veronica told the court that the two got married in 2014 after Sammy paid K400 as dowry and together they have two children.
READ ALSO:My Husband Comes Home With Used Condoms — Wife
According to Zambia Daily Mail, she said all was well until 2021 when her husband bought a car after he went to do some work outside the country.
“He started coming back home late and sometimes he would come the next day around 14:00 hours.
“He used to be a good husband, but the moment he bought a car, things changed in the house as he now started seeing other women.”
Metro
My Husband Seized My Wedding Gifts, Threw Me Out — Wife

…I’m sorry —Husband
A Sharia Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State, has dissolved a two-year-old marriage between a couple, Harira Sanusi and Aliyu Yunusa.
The judge, Malam Salisu Abubakar-Tureta dissolved their marriage following a petition for divorce filed by Harira.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Harira accused Aliyu of calling her parents names and humiliating her.
“He will often throw out my suitcases and other belongings.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
“He seized my wedding gifts and humiliates me,” she said.
She prayed the court to order Aliyu to allow her access to her belongings.
On his part, Aliyu who did not deny the allegations apologized to her in court.
Aliyu granted the request of Sanusi and made one pronouncement of divorce to her.
Metro
My Husband Threw Me Out After 17yrs of Marriage —Wife

…I still love her —Husband
A housewife, Lawal Modupe, has approached an Upper Area Court sitting at Kubwa, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking the dissolution of her 17-year-old marriage to her husband, Ismaila on the grounds of lack of love and affection.
Modupe told the court that she got married Ismaila according to Islamic laws.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the mother of three stated that her husband sent her out of their matrimonial home on June 17, 2023.
READ ALSO:My Husband Wants To Take A New Wife, Threatens To Kill Me If I Refuse To Leave, Woman Tells Court
“I do not love him anymore and I want the court to dissolve our marriage,” she said.
The respondent, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call for a mediation involving his family and that of the wife.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
The judge, Mohammed Wakli, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call or a mediation involving his family and that of his wife.
The judge, Mohammed Wakili, however, advised the respondent to make efforts to win his wife’s love back and the couple two weeks to settle their differences and report back to the court.
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