The Lagos State government on Friday insisted that it will intensify its raids and enforcement of the ban on Single Use Plastics, SUPs, that are less than 40 microns on major markets and stores as the negative impact on environment, wildlife and human health is very grave.
KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd)., made this known during the enforcement operations on ban of Single Use Plastics which continued at Bolade market, Oshodi and Ojuwoye market in Oshodi on the second day of the operation.
According to him, the ban has come to stay in order to reduce plastics pollution and to proffer lasting solution to flooding across the metropolis.
He advised traders and end users to embrace the use of reusable plastics, saying that the enforcement campaign which had entered day two would be continuous and that it would get to all markets and stores across the state till the desired goals on the ban of SUPs were achieved.
“Today is the day 2 of the enforcement; yesterday we were at Alakoro Market in Lagos Island. This morning we have visited to Bolade Market at Oshodi and now we are at Ojuwoye market at Mushin. Traders should ensure they only sell plastics that are not less than 40 microns for the betterment of all,” he said.
He said the enforcement was carried out at Alakoro market, Lagos Island on the first day, pointing out that the SUPs that were carted away included plastic cutleries, straws, light weight nylons, disposable cups and plates which would be confiscated.
He recalled that the announcement of the ban on SUPs was first made in January 2024 when the ban on Styrofoam was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
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He added that 18 months moratorium was given to producers to come up with alternatives before the commencement of the enforcement from 1st of July 2025.
He added that before the commencement of the enforcement, the state government had held series of meetings with concerned stakeholders which included Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Restaurants and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria, RFSPAN, and Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, FBRA, representatives amongst others on the way forward.
According to him, prior to this time, traders/ manufacturers/ distributors have been given 18 months grace period to exhaust the stock of the products from the market and embrace alternatives.
All manufacturers and traders have been sensitized on several occasions as well.
He said the government advocacy team from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources continually visited various markets across the state for trader’s sensitization and enlightenment on the harmful environmental and health impacts of the products.
He stressed that the SUPs most times ended in oceans or lagoons, causing pollution and in the belly of aquatic animals which is very harmful to man.
