Lagos State will begin full-scale enforcement of its ban on single-use plastic materials starting July 1, Commissioner for the Environment Tokunbo Wahab announced on Monday.
The commissioner explained that the policy follows a structured 18-month process that involves widespread stakeholder consultations and strategic planning.
Over the past year and a half, state officials engaged directly with manufacturers, vendors, and marketers of plastic products to ease the transition, Wahab said.
He emphasised that aligning with international environmental standards is non-negotiable for Lagos. “Practices that harm the environment elsewhere shouldn’t be normalised here,” he insisted.
In January 2024, the state outlawed the use of Styrofoam products, triggering significant pushback from those in the trade.
However, Wahab argued that the government has allowed more than enough time for adaptation and is now focused on responsible environmental governance.
During a recent meeting with TETRA PAK West Africa, Wahab reiterated the administration’s firm stance, stating that the policy is about securing a sustainable future.
He also pledged to replicate the same determination that led to the successful ban on Styrofoam.
Evidence of the government’s resolve surfaced in September 2024, when LAGESC officers, in collaboration with LAWMA, incinerated Styrofoam products valued at ₦5 million.
The operation, carried out in Epe, formed part of the government’s no-compromise approach to environmental violations. Corps Marshal Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) affirmed that Styrofoam usage would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
This policy move in Lagos aligns with a broader federal initiative. In June 2024, the Federal Government barred the use of single-use plastics in all public institutions.
Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, made the announcement following a cabinet meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Salako reminded the public that under the 2020 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, Nigeria aims to ban several classes of disposable plastics by January 2025.
He pointed out the environmental toll of plastic waste, noting that it blocks drainage systems, worsens flooding, and endangers marine life and human health.
The new measures, he said, are essential for addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity across the country.