The prohibition of single-use plastics in markets and other places in Lagos State is set to commence from today, July 1, 2025.

The enforcement takes effect following the expiration of an 18-month moratorium granted after the initial announcement in January 2024.

Theliberationnews observed that the ban prohibits the sale and use of disposable plastic bags, including the widely used black nylon bags popularly called “Poly Bag”.

In an interview on Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, confirmed that the enforcement would start on Tuesday with a press conference at Alausa, after which the enforcement teams would move to markets.

“All along, we had not gone out to enforce the ban because we were observing the moratorium window and sensitising,” Akodu said.

“In terms of how we intend to carry it out, it’s simple; we’ve done it before. There has been a ban on Styrofoam, so we will follow the same protocol.

“We have held a series of meetings with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, private bodies, business entities, and those who have something to do with the value chain of the supplies.

“If we leave it and let it be, this administration will be over, and I can assure you that it will never be done because people will keep begging for postponement, and procrastination kills dreams.

“So when our people move into the markets, by the time enforcement comes on the first and second day, we wouldn’t need to carry it out on the fifth day before people will begin to comply.

“In fact, some are already complying. It’s just that people like to dare the government, thinking they will not come,” the SA told The PUNCH in a telephone interview.

However, Theliberationnews gathered that this policy ban by the Tokunbo Wahab led Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is nothing but embarking on a wild goose chase. Members of the public queried the policy foundation that fails to address the reason behind the usage of the single use plastics and more importantly the negative impact of the ban on the economic wellbeing of investors and traders in the state.

The policy is a misplaced one especially when the ministry is not doing enough to rid the state of filth despite the billions of naira budgetary spendings on the environment by government.