The Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 Lagos elections, has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding the mutilation of sachet water and conflicting statements from government agencies.
The debate began over the weekend after a viral video showed an unidentified man stabbing bags of sachet water. The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, clarified that the individuals in the video were not government agents but officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
However, NAFDAC later denied any involvement in the enforcement exercise.
ccriticised the government’s approach, questioning the effectiveness of its policies.
“Are they now denying their well-publicized plan to ban Styrofoam and sachet water?” he asked, describing the situation as symptomatic of a “cosmetic and performative approach to governance.”
Citing his earlier warnings, he expressed concerns that enforcement actions like those in the viral video could harm small businesses without addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.
The incident has reignited public debate over the state’s waste management policies. Earlier this year, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources announced a ban on Styrofoam and single-use plastics, citing their role in clogging waterways and worsening environmental degradation.
Environmental advocate Temilade Salami also criticised the government’s strategy, calling for a more phased approach. In an October 5 tweet, she questioned the timing of the proposed plastic phase-out and urged a three to four-year transition period to allow for better public awareness and adaptation.
The controversy underscores the need for clearer coordination among agencies, better stakeholder engagement, and sustainable waste management policies.
