The Lagos state government under the leadership of Gov Sanwo Olu on Thursday made a vow to stand firm on the decision of banning styrofoam containers & single-use plastics in the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources of Lagos State, Dr. Tokunbo Wahab, didn’t attend the one-day stakeholders’ workshop on implementing the ban on the usage of styrofoam and single use plastics in Lagos state, but he was well represented by Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser on Environment.
Kunle Rotimi Akodu said the purpose of the one-day stakeholders’ workshop is to work on the plans and strategize on how to properly implement and efficiently sustain the ban of styrofoam containers & single use plastics in Lagos state.
According to Kunle Rotimi, an environmental waste statistic shows that Lagos state generates over 13,000 tonnes of environmental waste daily. Styrofoam containers & single-use plastics account for a huge percentage of the statistic according to him.
It is scientifically proven that it takes about a thousand years (1,000 years) for the degradation of a plastic material to occur. In addition to this research, it was added that microplastics are at times found in the bloodstream of humans, and mostly as a result of microwaving these materials.
Through Kunle Rotimi Akodu, Wahab said the fight against the use of styrofoam containers & single-use plastics will be beneficial to the present generation and the unborn. Back-track to January 2024 when the ban on Styrofoam containers & single-use plastics was announced, it was to boost a healthy environment and ecosystem.
Note that the ban on Styrofoam containers & single-use plastics is not yet effective as a moratorium period of 6 months after the implementation of the ban commenced on the 12th of February, 2024. After another consultation and review, it was extended to the end of 2024 and decided that the ban would become effective in January 2025.
The implementation of the ban on styrofoam commenced on February 12, 2024, upon the expiration of a three-week moratorium. The state announced a six-month moratorium period for SUPs which was later magnanimously extended till the end of 2024 upon stakeholders’ appeal to give room for more consultation, while the ban on SUPs will be effective by January 2025
Dr. Tokunbo Wahab
Dr. Tokunbo Wahab also highlighted the growing impact of Styrofoam containers and single-use plastics on Lagos’ environment. These materials are clogging waterways and drainage systems, leading to flooding. They’re also affecting air quality in local communities, which is contributing to various health problems for residents.
The ban of these items in the state is a big step and challenge that cannot be avoided because of the great benefits that come from the implementation. To provide a healthy ecosystem, the Lagos state government is committed to supporting research for alternative packaging that aids an enabling environment.
The future of Lagos – our health, environment, and economy rests on the actions we take today. I, therefore, urge each of you to embrace the journey towards a plastic-free Lagos with enthusiasm, optimism and shared sense of responsibility.
Dr. Tokunbo Wahab
Gaji Tajudeen, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services, pointed out that one of Lagos State’s biggest challenges in creating a habitable and eco-friendly environment is managing Styrofoam containers and single-use plastic waste. He emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders in the plastic industry to discuss ways to make progress on this issue.
Furthermore, Gaji stated that the Lagos state government should be careful in the implementation of the ban because of business owners in that industry, and the ban could also result in a regress of the state’s financial stability.
Prof. Funminiyi Adeleke, an ex Dean of Law, at Lagos State University, persuaded the Lagos state government to look into the economic effects the ban of styrofoam containers & single-use plastics could cause and how to tackle it in the short and long term.
