Some Lagos residents have expressed concerns over the proposed move by the state government to ban single-use plastics (SUPs) and sachet water, saying that it will lead to loss of jobs and disrupt economic activities.
The residents, in separate interviews on Sunday, October 13, 2024, appealed to the state government to have a rethink over the proposed ban.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, during a stakeholders’ workshop recently announced plans to ban SUPs and sachet water by January 2025.
Wahab said the policy is designed to establish sustainable guidelines for managing plastic waste while protecting public health and the environment.
He noted that Styrofoam and single-use plastics take centuries to degrade, making the ban essential for environmental protection.
Wahab said the Lagos State Government was working closely with the private sector organisations to provide alternatives for Styrofoam containers and other SUPs, while supporting research into new technological solutions.
However, the proposed ban appears to have sent shockwaves to the manufacturing and retail sectors, sparking fears of job losses, economic disruption, and uncertainty among stakeholders.
The ban has also raised concerns among water vendors who rely heavily on sachet water for their livelihood.
A Lagos resident and Sales Manager, Aremson Water Ltd., Ojo First Gate, Mr Akinyemi Bolaji, said that the ban would make a lot of people unemployed.
“I am more particular about employment. The ban will not favour anyone, and it will make thousands of people lose their source of livelihood.
“On the other hand, what is the reason for the ban? People are consuming it on a daily basis, so is there any way the government is putting it out to give people clean water?
“There should be other alternatives to curb the whole recycling issue,” he said.
While commending the government for the initiative, he, however, appealed for a better alternative to ensure the ban won’t affect the jobs of people in the water business.
“The government should help in educating the people on proper disposal properly as it’s written on the body of the plastic.
“Eradicating all these factories that produce the SUPs is not the best way. It’s a solution in one aspect and hazardous in another,” he said.
He advised the government to put a bin on every bus stop and house so as to curb the problem of single-use plastic blocking the drainage.
A retail water seller, Mrs. Vera Osiyemi, stated that sachet water had been the best way of curbing cholera.
“I don’t think it is going to be possible. This is what everyone consumes. If the government bans it, does it mean we are going back to our old way of selling iced water?”
“The solution is to create an awareness, educate the people on how to dispose it properly and provide bins. Just like we had in the old days, it was in every house,” Osiyemi said.
Another seller, Mrs. Afusat Ajibola, submitted that the ban might not be possible because the main idea was to get clean water.
“So, if the government eventually bans it, it will result in a serious cholera outbreak.
“It is not possible. The government can ban it, but it cannot work. There is no way we are going back to selling iced water,” she said.
She added that the government might have a way of controlling those that consume it.
“It is to provide for bins and continue to keep Lagos clean,” she said.
Another retailer, Miss Joy Okafor, said she was not aware of the proposed ban.
“Even if there would be a ban, we should understand that it’s not just the single use and sachet nylon water that block the drainage.
“There are other causes like disposables as well.
“Government knows what is best, but in this case, it is not possible. Will they provide clean pipe borne water for streets and houses?
“What will be the next step of the government? The only thing I’m seeing is more of unemployment, because people sell it to make ends meet,” she said.
She said the government should look for a means to curb the problem at disposing it and not banning it.
Mr. Chinedu Eze, a water distributor, said he was uncertain about what would happen next after the ban.
“I have been in the business for years. Now, I’m uncertain about the future. This isn’t just about access to water, it’s about the survival for thousands of us,” he said.
Another Lagos resident simply identified as Mummy Boma, a street vendor, said that the proposed ban would affect her livelihood.
“Selling pure water helps me feed my children and send them to school. Bottled water is too expensive to buy or sell in bulk.
“The government should rather enforce stricter regulations on sachet water producers to ensure better quality control and hygiene standards,” she said.
A resident and medical doctor, Dr Olufemi Adeyemi, disclosed that Lagosians could lose access to potable and affordable water due to the ban.
“Though some sachet water contains contaminated water due to lack of regulation, however, the government needs to provide alternative safe water sources before any ban is enforced.
“Without proper preparation, banning ‘pure water’ could leave millions of Nigerians without a reliable and affordable water option.
“Instead of an outright ban, the government could invest in public water systems to ensure a reliable supply of clean water in both urban and rural areas,” he said.
He added that this would reduce the population’s dependence on sachet water.
By Marcel Oghuvwu, Marvelous Udoruisi and Henry Oladele
