Khadija M-Williams argues the need for adequate public education before new policies come on stream
On January 21, 2024, the Lagos State Government announced, via the state Commissioner of
the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, a ban with immediate effect on the
usage and distribution of single-use plastics, specifically calling out Styrofoam. In order to
enforce the ban, the State cited a number of regulations including the National Environmental
(Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation 2009, which was established under the NESREA
Act which prohibits and specifically bans single-use plastics in Nigeria. According to the
Commissioner, other laws used to enforce the ban include the 2017 State Environmental
Management and Protection Law which states under section 56(I) (Y), “Prevent, stop or
discontinue any activity or omission, which is likely to cause harm or has caused harm to
human health or the environment”.
On the announcement of the ban, Styrofoam was the scapegoat, but it is only one type of
single-use plastic. By definition, single-use plastics can be said to be plastic materials that are
used for short periods of time before being discarded. This would therefore extend to items
like the plastic bags everyday Nigerians receive after purchasing items from shops; their day
of reckoning is probably on the way. Another issue with the ban was its immediate nature as
it initially did not provide a grace period for producers and distributors of these materials to
adjust; the State later provided a three-week grace period. Is a three-week period enough to
turn a business around? I welcome answers. Apart from providing a grace period, the State
should have initiated the ban with publicity campaigns, especially on education and
awareness, well ahead of the date of implementation to allow citizens to ease into it.
