By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos State Government today began full enforcement of its ban on single-use plastics, shutting down at least 12 major markets and distribution hubs for non-compliance.
The enforcement exercise, which started at 6 a.m. today, November 3, 2026, was led by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
Among the markets sealed were parts of Alaba International Market, Ladipo Market, and the popular Plastic Market in Ojo, where traders were found still stockpiling styrofoam packs, plastic straws, and lightweight carrier bags below 40 microns.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who monitored the exercise in Ojo, said the state had given enough moratorium since the ban was first announced in January 2024.
“We gave two years of sensitization, stakeholder engagement, and phased implementation. Today, there is no going back. Single-use plastics are choking our drains, causing flooding, and killing our marine life,” Wahab said.
The state said over 15,000 kilograms of banned plastic products were seized in today’s operation and would be recycled through its partnership with private recyclers.
Traders, however, protested the shutdown, saying the alternatives — paper packs and biodegradable plastics — are three times more expensive and in short supply.
“We support the environment, but government should have subsidized the alternatives first. A pack of styrofoam was N2,500, now paper pack is N8,000. Who will bear the cost?” said Mrs. Ronke Adewale, a food vendor in Ojo.
LASEPA said the ban will extend to supermarkets and eateries from next week, with fines ranging from N500,000 to N2 million for corporate offenders.
Lagos generates an estimated 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastics accounting for about 15 percent. The state says its goal is to cut plastic waste entering its waterways by 50 percent before the end of 2027.
The enforcement is expected to have a ripple effect on other states, as Ogun and Oyo have already announced similar bans to take effect in January 2027.
