The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to ban the usage and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the state, following a consultative meeting with the stakeholders in the manufacturing and food service sectors.
The government has granted a three-week grace period for the producers and distributors of styrofoam to comply with the ban or face severe penalties.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the decision on Sunday, January 21, saying that the ban was necessary to protect the environment and the lives of the residents from the harmful effects of styrofoam and single-use plastics.
He said that the government had been engaging with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Restaurant and Food Services Proprietor Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN) for over three years to find alternatives to styrofoam, but the response had been unsatisfactory.
He cited the clogging of drainage channels, the flooding of roads, the destruction of aquatic life, and the health hazards posed by styrofoam and single-use plastics as some of the reasons for the ban.
He said that the government could not compromise the well-being of millions of Lagosians for the economic interests of a few business owners.He urged the consumers and residents to boycott styrofoam and single-use plastics and adopt reusable food containers and water bottles.
He also directed the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) to commence the enforcement of the ban after the three-week moratorium.
He warned that violators would face heavy fines, closure of their premises, and possible prosecution.