Lagos to begin full enforcement on ban of single-use plastics July 1

The Lagos State government has declared that full enforcement of the ban on Single Use Plastics (SUPs) will commence on July 1, 2025, with violators facing a ₦250,000 fine or three months imprisonment.

Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said this  during a press briefing on Wednesday. 

He made it clear that the days of environmental impunity are numbered.

“From July 1, full enforcement of the ban on Single Use Plastics begins. Offenders who dump refuse illegally, litter the streets, or deface our environment will face stiff consequences,” Wahab warned.

Effective next month, the state will no longer issue warnings.

The enforcement will target indiscriminate plastic waste disposal, with a special focus on individuals and businesses that ignore the existing law.

Violators will risk fines of up to ₦250,000 or three months in jail. Wahab disclosed that over 3,000 individuals have already been arrested for related environmental offences in pre-enforcement operations.

The commissioner stated that the government has expanded its surveillance systems and launched intensive advocacy campaigns to increase public awareness ahead of the July deadline.

“These actions are not punitive, they are necessary steps to protect our environment for ourselves and for future generations,” Wahab said, rejecting any notion that the government is overreaching.

Wahab also reaffirmed that several environmental laws remain active and enforceable including the bans on public defecation, illegal street trading, and the operation of cart pushers.

“These laws are in force and offenders will be prosecuted accordingly. The law is clear, and compliance is non-negotiable,” he emphasised.

As the Eid-el-Kabir celebration draws near, Wahab urged Lagosians to conduct festivities with a strong sense of environmental responsibility.

He advised residents to bag their waste properly and hand it over to Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators instead of dumping it in public spaces, drains, or roadsides.