The Lagos State Goverment has announced plans to ban Single Use Plastics, such as pet bottles, sachet water, among others from January 2025 across the state.
This was announced on Thursday, by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, at a stakeholders’ workshop and awareness on the implementation of the ban on usage of Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging in Lagos.
The event was held at Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, MAN HOUSE, 77 Awolowo Road, Ikeja.
Wahab, who was represented by the Special Adviser on The Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, explained that the ban is part of the government’s measures to put in place policy guidelines for plastic utility in further ensuring a sustainable management of plastic waste, healthy and safe environment.
According to him, Lagos currently generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste products monthly, with more than 60% plastic.
According to Wahab, “Plastics waste materials make up a significant proportion of solid wastes and litter the metropolis.
“It has become a highly visible part of the waste stream, PET, Styrofoam and nylon for sachet water, popularly called “pure water” commonly being used for water and beverages, take away plates and cups, carrier bags, among others.
“This development is posing environmental challenges ranging from Ecosystems degradation, Drainage clogging and flooding, Lagoon and Ocean debris with attendant harm to human resulting in high socio-economic impacts on the State.”
He stressed that effective plastic waste management is fundamental to delivery of the State government’s priority transformational agenda as laid down in Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) and THEMES’ Plus Agenda of Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, because it is a resource that can be managed to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits.
Wahab added that sustainable plastic waste management “will improve the situation of the State’s drainage channels and reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment.”
Lagos chairperson, Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria, ATWAP, Mosaku Ololade, said, “We have been engaging Lagos State Government on the way forward and we have been sensitizing our members on the planned ban.
“We want the government to continue to engage us. We are a responsible association. We are ready to work with the government.
“We have over 2,000 members in Lagos alone with over 10,000 workers. We heeby, implore the government to implement the ban in phases to allow our members ample opportunity for compliance.
“There are lot of things to be put in place before coming up with total enforcement.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
