The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) is pleased to express its full support for the recent decision by the Government of Lagos State to ban Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), which is seen as a monumental step in protecting the environment and public health. This ban, which follows the successful earlier ban on Styrofoam, reflects the state’s unwavering commitment to addressing the growing crisis of plastic pollution in the Lagos megacity.
Recognising that the National Plastic Waste Regulations 2023 by NESREA soon to be gazette enshrines a ban on similar single-use plastics effective from 2025. And noting that the Federal Executive Council recently approved the ban on SUPs in all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) recently with immediate effect. SRADev Nigeria also recognises the peculiarity of Lagos State as a major producer of SUPs with less than 20% recycling capacity should necessarily adopt stricter measures to curb the menace. Against this backdrop, SRADeV Nigeria being the foremost campaigner and advocate for a safer plastic free environment hereby wholly supports Lagos State’s outright ban on SUPs effective from January 2025 especially, as this is long overdue.
While the initial ban on Styrofoam raised concerns from businesses and stakeholders on time adequacy, we believe that enough awareness and consultation with the key stakeholders as well as consistent advocacy for a “Just transition” has been ongoing for the past four years.
It should be noted that many African cities with lesser severe plastic pollution challenges have taken similar moves in the past 10 years and Lagos State, a megacity, cannot continue to promote the circular economy paradigm and its climate change commitment side by side the current production and use of SUPs in 2024. Therefore, it is imperative and overtly timely for the state government to declare the phase-out of single-use plastics effective from January 2025, to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for all residents of Lagos.
Notwithstanding, majority of all the alternatives are available and where the alternatives are not readily available it means there should be no production of such plastics in view of their danger.
Noteworthy also, the whole world by December 2024, a new Global Plastic Treaty is going to be finalised in South Korea of which Nigeria is playing a very important role and the Treaty having a major focus on placing a ban on SUPs as well. Therefore, Nigeria has to go the way of the global community when it comes to SUPs. As you already know, single-use plastics are a leading contributor to environmental degradation, littering waterways, choking wildlife, and disrupting ecosystems in Lagos – a known Centre of Excellence.
In view of the impact of plastic pollution in Lagos state, the current cost of inaction and over production of SUPs has immensely contributed to the over-burdened land resource and waste management infrastructure in the state.
SRADev Nigeria and its allies (GAIA Nigeria) stand by the state government to adopt an enforcement strategy that prioritises plastic hotspots from production to use. Extensive aggressive awareness raising should be mounted in all major plastic hotspots and consumer outlets such as supermarkets, eateries and shopping malls et cetera before the end of the year 2024 to facilitate immediate voluntary compliance.
At SRADev, we believe this policy will spur innovation in alternative packaging and provide new opportunities for green businesses to adopt environmentally friendly practices. While we look forward to the state’s pragmatic steps to monitoring and enforcement, we remain committed to supporting the state government, local communities, and businesses throughout this transition, while ensuring that no one is left behind as we work together towards a greener future.
Dr. Leslie Adogame is Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria)
