Lagos Govt Bans Use of Single-Use Plastics, Styrofoam Packs

Mayowa DurosinmiJanuary 21, 20241 Mins read137

Lagos Govt Bans Use of Single-Use Plastics, Styrofoam Packs

The Lagos State government has issued a ban announcement on the use of single-use plastics, and Styrofoam packs called ‘takeaways’ or disposables.

The announcement, as released on Sunday by the Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, warns against the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other disposable plastics in the State with “immediate effect”.

According to Wahab, the decision was reached following the menace that single-use plastics, especially the non-biodegradable Styrofoam, were causing on the environment.

The Commissioner advised producers, distributors, and end-users of these Styrofoam packs to take the ban seriously and find alternatives or risk heavy fines and other penalties, including the sealing of their premises.

Furthermore, he expressed that “Our state cannot be held hostage to the economic interests of a few wealthy business owners compared to the millions of Lagosians suffering the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of single-use plastics and other types of waste”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Nigerians’ careless usage and discarding of plastic products was condemned by the non-governmental organization Center for Earth Works in a September report, which also called for an end to plastic pollution in the nation.

However, this is a ban that comes with pleading with consumers and producers on the usage of waste products to cause environmental hazards. At the same time, the government has yet to adopt biodegradable means for packaging and production of goods for consumption.