By Femi Akinola
Lagos State Government has applauded the decision of the Federal Government to emulate the ban on Styrofoam packs and related single use plastics describing the plan as a welcome development.
Recall that a few days ago, the Lagos State Government announced a total ban on the usage and distribution of single- use plastic, especially the nonbiodegradable Styrofoam pack across the State.
Reacting to Federal Government decision to ban Styrofoam and other single-use packs, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave a thumb-up for the federal authority for supporting Lagos move towards a cleaner and sustainable environment.
The Minister of the Environment, Iziaq Salako, in a statement he personally signed which was made public on Tuesday, supports the ban of Styrofoam packs and other related single use packs across Lagos State as a move in the right direction.
According to him, the decision of the authority in Lagos State to ban Styrofoam and other single-use packs is ”a strong signal to businesses and the general public that the menace of single – use plastics needs to be comprehensively addressed, if Nigeria is to deliver on her environmental agenda of sustainability.
He said the ban of some plastic materials across the country is inevitable urging Nigerians to prepared for ”wholistic circular on management of our waste.”
The environment minister further explained that the Federal Government recently inaugurated ” an inter-agency committee to continue the process of robust consultation across government, across businesses and with all stakeholders to birth a sustainable solution that is sensitive to the Nigeria context.”
In his words, the minister said, ” The current poorly regulated and indiscriminate use of plastics has to be addressed, and Nigerians must be prepare for the inevitable change in this area, including banning some products.
”In the interim, Nigerians are advised to take personal delibrate environmental actions to reduce reuse of plastic packs and explore the growing market of recycling for their plastic waste. In the coming days, robust awareness campaign and sensitisation will be rolled out to prepare Nigerians for the inevitable ban of some plastics and wholistic circular management of our waste.”