The Lagos State Government has announced that full enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics will commence on July 1, 2025. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.
Wahab explained that the decision follows 18 months of strategic engagement, dialogue, and a transition period with stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and marketers of single-use plastics and Styrofoam products.
“We have given ample time to align with global best practices. What is unacceptable elsewhere cannot become the standard in Lagos,” Wahab stated.
This development comes after the Lagos State Government banned the use of Styrofoam products in January 2024, a move that sparked reactions, particularly from traders and food vendors heavily reliant on the material for packaging. Despite the initial resistance, the state government remained firm on its decision to prioritize environmental sustainability.
Reiterating the government’s stance during a courtesy visit by the management of TETRA PAK West Africa, led by Managing Director Haithem Debbiche, Wahab stressed the importance of environmental responsibility. “We’re not here to score points — we’re here to do the work. A cleaner, healthier Lagos is within reach if we all play our part,” he affirmed.
In a related enforcement effort, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), destroyed over ₦5 million worth of Styrofoam packs in one month during a clampdown on banned products in various parts of the state, including Epe.
Speaking at the site of the incineration, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), declared zero tolerance for the sale, distribution, and use of Styrofoam in Lagos, emphasizing that the enforcement was non-negotiable.
On a national level, the Federal Government of Nigeria in June 2024, also announced a ban on single-use plastics across all ministries, departments, and agencies. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The move aligns with the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, adopted in 2020, which targets the phased ban of certain plastic categories, particularly single-use plastics, by January 2025. Salako highlighted the environmental hazards posed by plastic waste, noting that it contributes to flooding, ocean pollution, and public health risks.
Both state and federal governments have reiterated their commitment to combating plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, with the Lagos State ban poised to serve as a major milestone in Nigeria’s environmental sustainability efforts.
