Tokunbo Wahab: Lagos will enforce ban on single-use plastics in Jan 2025

The Lagos state government says it will commence enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) in January 2025.

SUPs are products intended for short-term use, typically discarded after a single application, contributing significantly to waste and environmental pollution.

On January 21 2024, Lagos banned the use and distribution of styrofoam and other SUPs to reduce environmental pollution across the state.

Speaking on Monday during an inspection of flood-prone areas on Lagos Island, Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, said there has been reduction in styrofoam litter in the state.

He said plans were underway to ensure a smooth phase-out of SUPs in the state. 

“There is no going back on a total ban of SUPs. We are currently having conversations in respect of how to phase them off. The enforcement will take effect before the end of January,” Wahab said.

“Littering, especially with Styrofoam, has reduced compared to when enforcement of its ban initially started.”

The commissioner, who also inspected the Ilubirin pump station, decried the condition of the project noting that “bad human behaviour has clogged up the system”.

He added that the tour was essentially to review the state of the projects and determine if the state would continue with them.

“In fairness to the government, we saw the level of degradation. There was infrastructure built by Julius Berger under a government contract, properly done with a road network, functional drainage, and walkways,” he said

“This tour became necessary to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and to see if the contract period can be abridged.”