By Our Reporter
The Lagos State Government has announced enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) will begin in two weeks.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known during an inspection of flood-prone areas, ongoing projects and new initiatives on Lagos Island, culminating at the Ilubirin Waterfront.
In December 2024, Wahab declared a ban on the use of Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging, with enforcement slated to start in January 2025.
This followed the state government’s decision in January 2024 to ban Styrofoam, addressing the growing prevalence of plastic waste and its adverse environmental impact.
Speaking to journalists at the Ilubirin Pump Station, Wahab reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the timeline, stating, “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.”
He also noted that the ban had already shown positive effects, saying, “Littering, especially with Styrofoam, has reduced compared to when enforcement of its ban initially started.”
Discussing the condition of the Ilubirin Pump Station, Wahab said: “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. However, bad human behaviour clogged up the system.”
The inspection tour, Wahab explained, was essential as part of preparations for the Governor’s re-award of the Lagos Island infrastructure regeneration project. “This tour became necessary to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and to see if the contract period can be abridged,” he concluded.