The Lagos State Government has announced that full enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics will begin on July 1, 2025.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
Wahab noted that the state has taken a deliberate and phased approach over the past 18 months, marked by continuous stakeholder engagement and transition planning involving producers and marketers of plastic products.
In January 2024, Lagos banned the use of Styrofoam across the state—a move that sparked widespread reactions, especially from traders. However, Wahab stressed that sufficient time has been given for adaptation, emphasizing the importance of aligning with global environmental standards.
“This is about environmental responsibility,” he said. “We’ve given ample time for stakeholders to adjust. What is unacceptable in other parts of the world cannot become the norm in Lagos. We must protect our future and act in the collective interest.”
Wahab made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the management team of TETRA PAK West Africa, led by Managing Director Haithem Debbiche.
The commissioner vowed that enforcement will be taken seriously—just as with the Styrofoam ban—and that accountability and compliance would be expected across the board.
“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.”
In September 2024, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, destroyed ₦5 million worth of Styrofoam packs seized in a one-month sweep across the state. The incineration took place in Epe, carried out jointly with LAWMA officials.
At the event, LAGESC Corps Marshal Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) reiterated the government’s stance of zero tolerance for the sales, usage, or distribution of Styrofoam in Lagos.
Meanwhile, in June 2024, the Federal Government also announced a ban on single-use plastics within all ministries, departments, and agencies.
Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, stated that the ban aligns with Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, adopted in 2020, which targets the phasing out of certain categories of plastics—especially single-use items—by January 2025.
Salako emphasized that the policy is part of the government’s broader commitment to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution, which he described as critical environmental and public health threats.
“Plastic waste clogs our drains, worsens flooding, pollutes the oceans, and poses serious risks to human health and the environment,” he warned.
The upcoming enforcement in Lagos marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push toward a sustainable, plastic-free future.