Marketers kick as Lagos set to ban sachet water, PET bottles from January

In reaction to a grand move by the Goverment of Lagos State to ban the circulation of sachet water and other single-use plastics, marketers of the products have pleaded for more time.

The state government announced the plans could begin from January 2025 across the state.

PlanetPulse Nigeria in January 2024 reported the state government’s immediate ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam, which was implemented immediately.

The move had seen Styrofoam materials decrease in waste sites, as millions of styrofoam packs from several warehouses which still had the items were recently seized by officers of the Lagos environmental corps.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the new announcement on Thursday, at a stakeholders’ workshop and awareness on the implementation of the ban on usage of Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging in Lagos, held at Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, MAN HOUSE, 77 Awolowo Road, Ikeja.

Wahab, who was represented by the Special Adviser on The Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, explained that the policy guideline will also be backed up with appropriate legal framework to be established through an enabling law.

He disclosed that Lagos presently generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste products monthly, with plastics making up over 60 per cent.

He said, “Plastics waste materials make up a significant proportion of solid wastes and litter the metropolis.

“It has become a highly visible part of the waste stream, PET, Styrofoam and nylon for sachet water, popularly called “pure water” commonly being used for water and beverages, take away plates and cups, carrier bags, among others.

“This development is posing environmental challenges ranging from Ecosystems degradation, Drainage clogging and flooding, Lagoon and Ocean debris with attendant harm to human resulting in high socio-economic impacts on the State.

“It will improve the situation of the State’s drainage channels and reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment,” the commissioner stated.

Meanwhile, following the new announcement, stakeholders in the water-producing sector have urged the government to carry out phase implementation of the ban rather than outright enforcement for effective and efficient compliance.

Lagos chairperson, Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria, ATWAP, Mosaku Ololade, said, “We have been engaging Lagos State Government on the way forward and we have been sensitizing our members on the planned ban.

“We want the government to continue to engage us. We are a responsible association. We are ready to work with the government.

“We have over 2,000 members in Lagos alone with over 10,000 workers. We hereby, implore the government to implement the ban in phases to allow our members ample opportunity for compliance.

“There are lot of things to be put in place before coming up with total enforcement.”