Environmental advocate and founder of Eco Champions Africa, Temilade Salami, has raised concerns over the Lagos state government’s plan to phase out single-use plastics.
In a series of tweets on October 5, 2024, Salami said the plan’s timing is questionable.
“We are not ready for a sudden ban,” Salami said. “Sachet economy is driven by poverty and necessity for affordability. A ban that does not put into consideration other connected issues is ineffective.”
Salami emphasised that while the intention behind the ban is commendable, the government needs to ensure that there is a structured phase-out plan.
She suggested a three to four year transition period for single-use plastics, expressing concern that there has been little public awareness or communication about such a plan.
“I asked 10 people yesterday, and NONE of them know if such a document exists. That means, there is no awareness!”
Salami also highlighted the importance of a just transition, a concept that emphasises fairness and equity in moving away from environmentally damaging practices.
“There are lives and jobs connected to these things,” she noted, advocating for a gradual approach that takes into account the livelihoods of those involved in industries related to single-use plastics.
Comparing Lagos to countries like Rwanda, which successfully banned plastic bags after a five-year phase-out plan, Salami stressed that Nigeria cannot simply replicate the results without understanding the process.
“If we will copy a nation’s result, we must ask about the process too,” she said.
She also raised the issue of affordability, asking what alternatives are available for everyday Lagosians. “What should Iya Sade or Brother Bernard, who works in the hot sun, drink from? What can they afford?”
The state government’s position
In January 2024, the state government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, announced a ban on the use and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics.
The initiative is part of the state’s broader commitment to addressing the environmental challenges posed by non-biodegradable materials like plastic straws, nylons, and styrofoam, which have been linked to severe flooding caused by the blockage of gutters, canals, and other waterways.
Following consultations with key stakeholders such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Restaurant and Food Services Proprietor Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), the state government issued a three-week notice in February 2024.
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has been vocal about the state’s resolve to tackle the plastic waste crisis.
During an engagement workshop held on October 3 in Ikeja, the government reaffirmed its plans to enforce mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), sachets, and carrier bags with a thickness of no less than 40 microns.
“Styrofoam and other Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) that have been banned since January 2024 will have enforcement of the ban commencing in January 2025 after the one-year moratorium period,” Wahab said in a statement via X (formerly Twitter).
These single-use plastics include Styrofoam plates and cups, straws, plastic cutlery, and nylon bags less than 40 microns.
To support these efforts, a Plastic Waste Management Fund will be established in collaboration with producers and Producers Responsibility Organizations (PROs). The fund, to be financed by contributions from manufacturers and major importers, aims to manage the growing plastic waste problem in Lagos.