SUPs: Lagos postpones enforcement of ban by three weeks

Lagos Government says enforcement of its ban on single use plastics (SUPs) materials in the state, also called styrofoam, could be delayed by three weeks, as it is poised to offer moratorium to all producers and distributors of the material.

To this end, the state government stated that is willing to postpone the ban on styrofoam and other single-use plastics (SUPs) by three weeks.

According to Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who stated via his X account, while there is going back on the ban in the state, after the three-week moratorium, which the enforcement will go into full force.

Wahab stated that an immediate ban on the usage and distribution of SUPs, especially styrofoam across the state will go into force after the three weeks, as according to him, the ban was due to the impacts of SUPs, especially non-biodegradable styrofoam, on the environment.

It would be recalled that Wahab, had, Thursday, said during a consultative meeting with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), Thursday in Lagos, that enough damage had been done to the health of the people and the environment through the usage of styrofoam in the state.

“The only soft landing which the state is willing to offer all producers and distributors of styrofoam is to delay the enforcement of the ban by three weeks,” he said.

He said that three weeks were enough time for the products already in the state to be exhausted, if indeed the stockists were committed.

Wahab noted that the pronouncement on the ban of styrofoam was made over three years but was not enforced.

“You will all agree with me that for over three years this conversation has been ongoing, waiting for when the big bold step of enforcement will be taken,” Tokunbo said.

According to him, the number of lives that have been lost through the use of styrofoam, the destruction of the ecosystem and aquatic lives as well as the menace brought upon the environment cannot be quantified.

“The lives of the residents are far more important than the profit the producers will make for the continuous production of styrofoam,” Wahab said.

According to him, the manufacturers appeal to put the ban on hold is like wanting people to take poison for a longer time in order to reduce their (manufacturers) commercial losses.

He maintained that the havoc and destruction caused to public utility by styrofoam products during and after the raining season was unimaginable.

Wahab stated that if the producers had been responsible enough to respect the law, government would not have to wade into the matter.

According to him, government is putting a human face to this ban by giving three weeks moratorium to producers and entrepreneurs in the hospitality business.

He urged them to bear in mind that leadership and governance involves making tough decisions.

He said producers have a responsibility to the society, adding that  none of them had taken steps to conduct an environmental impact assessment before commencement of production for public use.

He said the conversation about other types of single use plastics would continue until a workable solution was reached leading to their ban.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Gaji Tajudeen, noted that the decision to ban the product was reached following the menace caused by the use of styrofoam in the environment.

Earlier, in a new post on X, Thursday, the commissioner said the state will offer a three weeks moratorium to all producers and distributors of styrofoam after which the enforcement will go into full force.

“The number of lives that have been lost through the effect of the use of styrofoam, the destruction of the ecosystem and aquatic lives as well as the menace brought upon the environment cannot be quantified,” the statement reads.

“As a responsible government, the lives of the residents are far more important than the profit producers set to make for the continuous production of styrofoam.

“The only moratorium that the state is willing to offer all producers and distributors of styrofoam is to delay the commencement of enforcement of the ban by three weeks after which the government will go on full enforcement of the law.”