The Lagos State Government’s abrupt and unexpected announcement of a ban on the production, distribution, and use of single-use plastic (SUP) and styrofoam has taken the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) by surprise.
The announcement’s somewhat harsh tone and wording, according to MAN’s Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir, have alarmed company owners along the value chain, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, transporters, and users, who might all find themselves “clamped down.”
“To put that in perspective, on Sunday, a product that was lawful on Saturday was declared illegal. Thus, within a day, every business owner involved in the styrofoam and SUPs value chain is out of business. All those involved, including the workers, lose their employment. The items can no longer be used by the end users to derive value.”
“All of these without prior engagements, notices, or cautions. We see the prohibition as akin to starting the horse after the wagon.”
“Prioritizing stakeholder participation before acting would have been a wiser course of action. The timing of the prohibition is also inconsistent with the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which the state ought to have followed because our country’s economy has to be shielded against preventable distortions,” he added.
He said his colleagues are committed to sustainable business practices but are also concerned about the welfare of the people of Lagos and the sanctity of the city’s environment, adding that they are aware of the environmental concerns brought up by the commissioner in charge of the environment.
“Nonetheless, we find it concerning that there haven’t been any discussions with pertinent value chain participants. The public was not previously informed about the proper disposal of Styrofoam and SUPs or their effects on the environment.”
“There is little indication that companies are being consulted on how to move away from the production of Styrofoam and toward more ecologically friendly packaging materials, let alone offering assistance in this shift. Never mind that those businesses have continued to produce and sell those goods and pay their taxes to the government; this should spur the appropriate authorities to support and encourage the changeover,” he said.
