• Stakeholders Call for Phased Implementation
The Lagos State Government has announced that the ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), including PET bottles and sachet water, will take effect in January 2025.
The ban aims to tackle the increasing plastic waste in the metropolis and its harmful environmental impact.
The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ workshop held at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) House in Ikeja.
Represented by the Special Adviser on the Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Wahab emphasized that the ban will be reinforced by legal frameworks established through new legislation.
“Plastic waste materials make up a significant proportion of solid wastes and litter across Lagos. PET bottles, Styrofoam, and sachet water packaging contribute to environmental challenges, including drainage clogging, flooding, and marine pollution,” Wahab stated.
He added that addressing these challenges would improve the state’s drainage channels and reduce plastic pollution in its waterways.
Wahab reiterated that the government had already implemented a ban on Styrofoam in February 2024, following a three-month moratorium. However, the ban on Single-Use Plastics will only be enforced starting January 2025, following an extended moratorium period after consultations with stakeholders.
Stakeholders Request Phased Approach
In response to the impending ban, the Chairperson of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Mosaku Ololade, called for a phased approach to allow stakeholders time to comply with the regulations.
“We have been engaging with the Lagos State Government on the way forward, and sensitizing our members about the planned ban,” Ololade said.
Ololade urged the government to consider the livelihood of the over 2,000 members and 10,000 workers involved in the production of sachet water in Lagos.
“We implore the government to implement the ban in phases, so our members have ample time to adapt. There are a lot of things to be put in place before total enforcement can be effective.”
The Lagos State Government has acknowledged the concerns of industry players and reiterated that the policy would be gradually implemented to ensure compliance while minimizing disruptions to businesses in the sector.
