On January 21, 2024, Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources for the state of Lagos, Nigeria announced via Twitter/X that “the Lagos State government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is hereby announcing a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State with immediate effect.”
According to information from the state of Lagos, distributors and sellers of polystyrene foam packaging were given three weeks to “mop [up] the products in circulation” before the state would begin enforcement. In the weeks since the announcement, people from the Ministry have been visiting markets to educate vendors about the ban and the planned enforcement.
Current actions focus on polystyrene foam, but further rules on other types of single-use plastic products are expected later in 2024. In a statement, Wahab said, “[o]ur state cannot be held hostage to the economic interests of a few wealthy business owners compared to the millions of Lagosians suffering the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of single-use plastics and other types of waste.”
According to reporting from Pulse, the US-Nigeria Trade Council has expressed concerns over the sudden implementation of the ban.
A few days after the announcement from Lagos, the state of Abia followed. Business Post summarized statements from Abia’s Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, that “the use of takeaway packs in the state had already been banned by the state government, but the implementation was relaxed.” However, he emphasized that this time, “the state government was serious about the prohibition and would deal decisively with defaulters.”
At the federal level, the Nigerian Ministry of Environment also announced in January 2024 that it will no longer use single-use plastics at its headquarters and agencies.
References
Tokunbo Wahab (January 21, 2024). “Tweet announcing SUP ban in Lagos state.” Twitter/X
O. Olasunkanmi (January 22, 2024). “Lagos announces ban on usage of styrofoams, single use plastics.” Lagos State Government.
TVC Entertainment (January 29, 2024). “Styrofoam Ban; Lagos Postpones Enforcement By 3 Weeks || YourViewTVC LIVE.” YouTube
Modupe Gbadeyanka (January 29, 2024). “Styrofoam foils after Lagos.” Business Post
O. Olasunkanmi (February 1, 2024). “Ban on styrofoam: LAWMA, MAN brainstorm.” Lagos State Government
Oyenike Oyeniyi (January 13, 2024). “Environment Ministry Bans Single-Use Plastics At Headquarters, Agencies.” Voice of Nigeria
Read more
Oluyemi Ogunseyin (January 22, 2024). “Lagos bans single-use plastics with ‘immediate effect’.” Guardian
Cristen Hemngway Jaynes (January 22, 2024). “Nigeria’s Lagos State Bans Single-Use Plastics and Styrofoam.” EcoWatch
(January 23, 2024). “US-Nigeria Trade Council warns Lagos Govt against immediate plastic ban.” Pulse
Ferdinand Omondi (January 23, 2024). “Greenpeace Africa Lauds Nigeria’s Lagos State Plastic Ban.” Greenpeace
Samuel Bolaji (January 26, 2024). “LASG gives styrofoam makers three weeks to clear stock.” Punch NG
Temitope O. Sogbanmu (January 30, 2024). “Nigeria’s plastic ban: why it’s good and how it can work.” The Conversation
