The Lagos State Government announced plans on Thursday to implement a ban on the circulation of single-use plastics (SUPs), including sachet water, starting from January 2025. This move is part of the state’s broader efforts to address environmental concerns related to plastic waste.
At a stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation of the ban on Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the ban would begin in 2025. Wahab explained that this policy is part of the government’s strategy to establish clear guidelines for plastic use, promoting more sustainable waste management practices and ensuring a healthier, safer environment. He noted that the growing issue of plastic pollution has made such measures necessary.
Wahab also highlighted that in January 2024, the state government had already banned the use of Styrofoam in government establishments and across the city, following concerns about the increasing prevalence of plastic waste and its negative environmental impacts in recent years.
However, sector stakeholders have urged the government to adopt a phased approach to the implementation of the ban rather than enforcing it all at once. They believe this will promote better compliance, especially given the current economic challenges faced by citizens.
The chairperson of the Lagos chapter of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Mosaku Ololade, emphasized that the organization has been in discussions with the government about the proposed ban and has started sensitizing its members. She underscored the association’s willingness to collaborate with the government but appealed for a phased rollout of the policy to allow their over 2,000 members and 10,000 workers in Lagos adequate time to adjust to the new regulations.
Ololade noted that several logistical challenges need to be addressed before full enforcement, urging the government to consider these factors in the policy’s implementation.
