Lagos to begin full enforcement of single-use plastics ban on July 1
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has announced that it will commence full enforcement of the ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) across the state beginning July 1, 2025.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made the announcement during a courtesy visit by the management of Tetra Pak West Africa Limited at the Alausa Secretariat over the weekend.
Wahab said the decision to ban SUPs was not taken lightly but was based on environmental realities facing Lagos, a coastal city with limited land mass and a rapidly growing population.
He recalled that the state had earlier banned Styrofoam food packs in 2024 and indicated then that a broader ban on SUPs would follow within 12 months.
“From January this year till now, we have allowed a transition period of nearly 18 months. By July 1, 2025, full enforcement will begin, and heavens will not fall,” Wahab said firmly.
He noted that the government has engaged industry stakeholders such as the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBBRA), and has so far recorded about 70% compliance.
Wahab emphasised the responsibility of producers to comply with environmental laws and adopt sustainable practices, warning that attempts to undermine the policy would not be tolerated.
“We are all birds of passage. Let them say of us that we did the right thing at the right time for the greater good of our people,” Wahab added.
He stressed that globally, single-use plastics are being phased out, and the Lagos State Government is committed to adopting global best practices for environmental sustainability.
In response, the Managing Director of Tetra Pak West Africa Limited, Mr. Haithem Debbiche, expressed support for the ban, affirming the company’s commitment to sustainability and compliance with Lagos State’s environmental laws.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, including the Permanent Secretaries for Environmental Services and Drainage Services, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and other key stakeholders.
