First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Tells Nigerians: Stop Wasting Food as Environmental Crisis Deepens

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged Nigerians to reduce food waste and adopt more sustainable environmental practices as the country joins the global observance of World Cleanup Day 2026. She made the call in a message marking the event on Sunday, September 20, under the theme “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.”

Oluremi Tinubu said the focus on food waste was particularly relevant at a time when climate change, conflicts and other global challenges continue to disrupt food production and supply. She urged Nigerians to become more responsible in the way they purchase, prepare, consume and preserve food.

Oluremi Tinubu Calls for Responsible Food Consumption

The First Lady appealed to households, businesses and communities to take practical steps to reduce unnecessary food waste. She also encouraged Nigerians to dispose of refuse properly and embrace sustainable practices capable of protecting the environment and improving living conditions.

According to Oluremi Tinubu, environmental cleanliness should not be limited to removing waste from streets and public spaces. She emphasised that reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place is also an important part of creating cleaner communities.

Oluremi Tinubu Links Food Waste to Global Challenges

First Lady said this year’s emphasis on food waste comes amid wider disruptions to global food production and supply. The United Nations says the 2026 World Cleanup Day campaign focuses specifically on food waste, linking the issue to environmental sustainability, food systems and cleaner cities.

The United Nations estimates that about 1.05 billion metric tonnes of food were wasted at household, food-service and retail levels in 2022. It also says food loss and waste contribute significantly to greenhouse-gas emissions and place unnecessary pressure on land, water and waste-management systems.

Oluremi Tinubu Seeks Collective Action for Cleaner Nigeria

The First Lady called for collective responsibility among Nigerians, saying households, businesses and communities all have roles to play in protecting the environment. She stressed that sustained action is necessary to build cleaner and healthier communities for present and future generations.

For OGM News NG, Oluremi Tinubu’s World Cleanup Day message places everyday consumption and waste-disposal habits at the centre of the environmental conversation. The challenge now is translating the call into practical actions, from buying and preserving food responsibly to reducing waste and keeping communities clean.