plastic traders, waste pickers call for phased enforcement of lagos single-use plastics ban

By Faridat Salifu
Dealers and informal waste sector workers have called on the Lagos State Government to reconsider the July 1 enforcement date for its ban on single-use plastics (SUPs), warning that the move could worsen unemployment and disrupt livelihoods without adequate transition support.
Speaking in Lagos, the President of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL), Mr. Friday Oku, said a phased implementation period of at least three years would allow stakeholders in the plastics value chain to adapt or switch businesses.
Oku criticised the state government for failing to carry out sufficient awareness campaigns or stakeholder engagement before announcing the ban’s enforcement.
“This sudden ban is insensitive, especially in this economy. A lot of people will lose their means of livelihood,” Oku said.
Other traders and producers echoed this concern. Mrs. Bunmi Ayeni, a long-time nylon dealer at Ikotun Market, said she had depended on the trade for over seven years. “There is no time to start something new. We need more time and support,” she said.
Mr. Anthony Ugbe, a nylon producer based in Ayobo, said he had invested heavily in machinery and raw materials and feared his business would collapse if the ban proceeds without alternatives.
Similarly, Mrs. Precious Ibeh, a trader at Iyana Ipaja, said she was still reeling from losses suffered during the styrofoam ban in 2024 and now faces uncertainty again.
However, some members of the informal workforce have backed the government’s position, calling for better communication rather than policy reversal.
Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, General Secretary of the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, said the SUP ban is justified on environmental and health grounds, but should include intensive public sensitisation.
“People use nylon to package hot food like moi moi, akara, and eba. This is dangerous. It’s a good policy, but the approach must be humane,” Komolafe said. He urged the state to deploy awareness campaigns across mainstream and social media in local languages and consult stakeholders to ease the transition.
Komolafe added that SUPs such as plastic straws, cutlery, and low-micron carrier bags contribute to blocked drains, flooding, and food contamination. He warned that unless the informal sector is carried along, the policy may lead to non-compliance and economic backlash.
The Lagos State Government clarified on May 20 that the ban does not cover PET bottles or sachet water. Banned items include plastic straws, plastic cutlery, and carrier bags below 40 microns in thickness.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reaffirmed that the July 1 enforcement follows an 18-month moratorium since the ban was announced in January 2024.
Officials said enforcement will begin in July with routine inspections and penalties for non-compliant businesses. The state maintains that the policy is part of broader environmental reforms to reduce plastic pollution and improve public health.
As the deadline approaches, stakeholders have urged the state to adopt a collaborative framework, balance environmental priorities with socio-economic realities, and provide practical alternatives for affected businesses.