The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Lagos State Government to reconsider its proposed prohibition of single-use plastics (SUPs), cautioning that such a move could significantly disrupt the economy and threaten the livelihoods of various groups, including manufacturers, informal traders, recyclers, and end consumers.
The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment had earlier disclosed plans to implement the ban starting July 1, 2025, as part of a broader campaign to address environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution.
In a formal statement, however, MAN criticised the decision, arguing that it was not backed by reliable data, lacked inclusive stakeholder engagement, and would likely increase unemployment and deepen poverty across the state.
“It’s not a plastic problem, but a waste management failure. It is the failure of plastic waste management that leads to pollution, not the material itself,” said MAN’s Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir.
Ajayi-Kadir contended that simply outlawing SUPs without providing viable alternatives or strengthening existing infrastructure would do little to tackle pollution. On the contrary, he said, it would merely shift the burden without addressing the root cause.
The association, citing a commissioned survey, revealed that all manufacturers participating in the study expressed concerns about potential job losses and major restructuring if the ban takes effect.
Further insights from the report include:
89% of stakeholders in the plastic industry depend primarily on single-use plastics for their revenue streams.
More than 75% of small businesses and individual users rely on plastic packaging due to its affordability and accessibility.
93% of dealers—most of whom are women—were unaware of the policy and lacked any form of social protection or safety net.
Recycling firms warned that their already underutilised plants could suffer further due to reduced access to recyclable plastic waste.
“There is no form of arrangement for social protection for the employees who will lose their livelihoods as a result of this ban,” the association emphasised.
Beyond its direct impact on employment, MAN noted that the proposed ban could undermine Lagos’s manufacturing base, particularly for companies that distribute goods to other parts of Nigeria and neighbouring African countries. Such disruptions, the group warned, could lead to declining export earnings and broken supply chains.
The association also cautioned that industries dependent on plastic packaging might face product quality and safety risks if forced to adopt alternative materials like kenaf or paper, which are not only costlier but also limited in local supply.
Despite the environmental concerns tied to plastic, MAN said Nigeria’s recycling sector remains grossly underutilised due to poor collection systems. The current recycling rate for plastic packaging in Nigeria is reportedly under 15%, compared to over 50% in some European countries like the United Kingdom (52.5%) and Germany (68.9%).
MAN recommended a different approach—one centred on circularity and systems-based thinking. The association encouraged the Lagos State Government to prioritise investment in recycling infrastructure, such as waste sorting, plastic collection, and reuse systems.
It further urged support for the local development of eco-friendly packaging solutions and emphasised the importance of grounding environmental policies in reliable, context-specific data.
Stakeholder participation, MAN added, is critical to any meaningful change. The association called on the government to collaborate with key players—including manufacturers, retailers, waste collectors, and end users—rather than sideline ongoing industry-led recycling programs like the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA).
MAN also highlighted that the Federal Government has already laid the foundation for sustainable plastic management through the National Plastic Action Roadmap and the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (NPPWM). These frameworks, it said, promote circularity and were developed through broad stakeholder engagement.
“Nigeria should not be destroying its petrochemical industry with bans on plastics, but should instead close the loop by ensuring that all plastics are recycled,” the association added.
Drawing comparisons to international best practices, MAN pointed out that many advanced economies are opting for large-scale investments in recycling rather than outright bans. For example, it cited the Canadian government’s recent $1.8 billion funding initiative for Dow Chemical’s zero-waste plastic plant. The association warned that Nigeria must avoid mimicking global policy trends without first considering its local realities and industrial landscape.
(News Ng)
