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A ban on single-use plastics and sachet water is set to take effect in Lagos from January 2025, according to the state government.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed this during a stakeholders’ workshop aimed at raising awareness on the forthcoming ban of Styrofoam and single-use plastics (SUPs) for packaging.

Wahab explained that the ban aligns with the government’s initiative to develop policy guidelines for plastic usage, in a bid to ensure sustainable plastic waste management and a healthier environment.

Back in January 2024, the government had already prohibited the use of Styrofoam in public institutions across the city, citing the growing environmental threat posed by plastic waste.

In response, industry stakeholders have urged the government to adopt a phased approach to the ban, highlighting the need for flexibility given the current economic climate.

Speaking on the matter, Mosaku Ololade, Lagos chairperson of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), said, “We have been engaging Lagos State Government on the way forward and we have been sensitising our members on the planned ban.

We want the government to continue to engage us. We are a responsible association. We are ready to work with the government.

“We have over 2,000 members in Lagos alone with over 10,000 workers. We hereby implore the government to implement the ban in phases to allow our members ample opportunity for compliance.”

Lagos Country