In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Lagos State Government has announced plans to ban the use of single-use plastics, including PET bottles and sachet water, starting January 2025. This initiative aims to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste in the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the urgency of this measure during a stakeholders’ workshop. “Plastic waste materials make up a significant proportion of solid wastes and litter the metropolis. This development is posing environmental challenges ranging from ecosystems degradation, drainage clogging, and flooding, to lagoon and ocean debris with attendant harm to humans,” Wahab stated.
The ban is part of a broader policy to ensure sustainable management of plastic waste and to create a healthier environment for Lagos residents. The policy will be supported by an appropriate legal framework to be established through an enabling law.
Stakeholders have urged the government to implement the ban in phases to ensure effective compliance and minimise economic hardship. Mosaku Ololade, Lagos chairperson of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), said, “We have been engaging Lagos State Government on the way forward and sensitising our members on the planned ban. We implore the government to implement the ban in phases to allow our members ample opportunity for compliance”.
This ban follows the earlier prohibition of styrofoam in government establishments and across the metropolis in January 2024. The state government has been proactive in addressing plastic waste, which constitutes over 60% of the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated monthly in Lagos.
Wahab added, “Effective plastic waste management is fundamental to the delivery of the State government’s priority transformational agenda as laid down in the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) and THEMES’ Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”
The ban on single-use plastics is a crucial step towards a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos. As the state prepares for this transition, continuous engagement with stakeholders will be essential to ensure a smooth and effective implementation.
