The Lagos State Government has announced plans to ban single-use plastics (SUPs), including PET bottles and sachet water, starting January 2025. This significant move is aimed at tackling the growing plastic waste crisis that has plagued Lagos and other African cities for years.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed the decision during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Ikeja on Thursday. He emphasized that the ban is part of the state’s broader strategy to foster a healthier and more sustainable environment. “Plastic waste materials make up a significant proportion of solid wastes and litter the metropolis,” Wahab said. He highlighted that over 60% of the monthly 13,000 tonnes of waste generated in Lagos consists of plastics, causing everything from ecosystem degradation to drainage clogs and flooding.
Wahab added, “This development is posing environmental challenges ranging from ecosystem degradation, drainage clogging, and flooding, to debris in lagoons and oceans, with harmful socio-economic impacts on the state.”
This policy, aligned with the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) and the THEMES Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will be accompanied by legal frameworks to ensure compliance. While the initiative is commendable, stakeholders, including the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), are urging the government to implement the ban in phases. ATWAP Lagos Chairperson, Mosaku Ololade, stressed, “We want the government to engage us. We are a responsible association, and we are ready to work with them. But we need more time to adjust.”
For MSMEs in Lagos, especially those involved in packaging and manufacturing, this announcement means that adapting to eco-friendly packaging solutions is now more critical than ever. The transition might seem daunting, but it presents an opportunity for businesses to innovate and stay ahead in a market increasingly driven by sustainability.
