….Seeks Broader Strategic Partnership
Yemisi Izuora
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has overtly criticized and challenged the decision of the Ministry of Environment in Lagos State to implement a ban on certain single-use plastics in Lagos State effective July 1, 2025.
The Association outrightly said that it is out of tune with the reality of our socio-economic situation, and is bereft of more ingenious and beneficial solutions. According to the MAN, the proposed ban is riddled with needless, potentially adverse economic and social impacts on the State and the Country.
The decision is predicated on the unsubstantiated claim that plastics, and especially some single-use plastics (SUPs) are associated with adverse health and environmental impact and therefore need to be banned.
The Ministry, according to the body is yet to publish any study to substantiate this claim and on the contrary, plastic is indeed a versatile and highly durable material that is supporting mankind in various endeavours across industries and that it is the failure of management of plastic waste that may result in adverse environmental and social impacts.
The Director General (DG) of the Association, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in an articulated response shared with Oriental News Nigeria, noted that the Association and its members share the global concern on the challenges created by plastic waste mismanagement and therefore recognize that a policy environment that enables circularity is indispensable in ending the so-called plastic pollution in Nigeria as a country and globally.
The approach to achieving circularity in the plastic system needs to be life-cycle oriented, contextually relevant, and systemic, with strong consideration for the interaction of the societal system, human behaviour, and environmental impacts.
According to Ajayi-Kadir, It is this realization that has led the Federal Government to develop the National Plastic Action Roadmap for Nigeria.
He continued, “This document (which was developed when the draft National Plastic Waste Control Regulation (NPWCR) 2023 was at its development stage) indicates specific and practical aspirations and steps for achieving plastic (including SUPs) circularity within the Country.
“Its development process gave appropriate consideration to the provisions of the draft NPWCR, an enabling law to execute the aspirations of the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (NPPWM), 2020.
“It also contemplated the different plastic types and their uses. Its consultation process was participatory, ranking high on the public participation continuum as it sought to understand the viewpoints and challenges of Stakeholders, including the industry. Its output was therefore widely endorsed and accepted as the process was inclusive and evidence-based, even though the aspirations were not favourable to industry.”
The DG, further evidenced, that the process for the pronouncement on the ban on SUPs in Lagos State was not inclusive. “It began with the development of the draft Lagos State Plastic Waste Management Policy (LSPWMP) 202, requesting that manufacturers should mandatorily subscribe to the creation of a Lagos State Plastic Waste Fund, a complete duplication of the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme being concurrently implemented. This is evidenced by about 40 members of the Association already subscribed to the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA).”
He said that “It is important to note that there was no participatory consultation or social dialogue about the challenges of the industry and everyday users of these items preceding the announcement of these bans. The industry was not given a room for any form of discussion on the challenges that could be associated with the ban and how to mitigate them.
“The ban focuses on the easiest approach to address the issue of plastic pollution rather than the most sustainable approach that gives balanced attention to social, economic, and environmental considerations.
Addressing SUP waste mismanagement through a ban will not bring about a lasting solution; it will only be a replacement of the polluting material.
There is objective evidence that one of the major causes of SUPs pollution in Nigeria, Lagos inclusive, is a function of the inadequate waste collection and management system in the Country.
“The practice of dropping skip bins for waste collection in markets and crowded areas, which releases a lot of waste into the environment, the absence of sorting infrastructure such as material recovery facilities, and low recycling rates are significant issues in the system.”
In line with its fundamental principle of advancing fact-based advocacy and data-informed positions, the Association sought to understand the potential impact of the ban on the economy.
“A recent MAN-supported study evaluating the possible impacts of the Lagos State SUPs ban revealed significant adverse economic, operational, and social implications across the value chain, from manufacturers to wholesalers, traders, and end users. It has been noted that only poor and developing countries often tilt towards plastic ban as a strategy to combat environmental problems.
“A hundred percent (100%) of the manufacturers consulted expressed concern over a ban-induced workforce restructuring. Thus, several jobs will be lost in the industry if this ban were to be implemented. It is noteworthy to mention that there is no form of arrangement for social protection for the employees who will lose their livelihoods as a result of this ban. “
He also, stressed that there has been no form of social dialogue on the part of the Government with these workers or the industry on the potential job losses.
He said that the Association and its members understand the need to evolve into more recent trends of re-useable plastic products, improved product design that aligns with circularity, and cleaner production processes.
The plastic industry sector under the membership of the Association is therefore committed to transitioning to newer business models, fostering expansion in mechanical and chemical recycling, exploring the production of plastic from biomass and captured carbon, while adopting cleaner disposal systems.
These developments should be enabled with the availability of circular feedstock and Government incentivizing investments in these circular solutions.
He assured that the Association and its members will continue to work collaboratively with Producer Responsibility Organizations as prescribed by the National Sectoral Regulations to fulfil our obligations across the Country.
It is therefore unhelpful and needlessly disruptive to introduce parallel arrangements in any State in the Country.
A systems-oriented approach is relevant to achieving circularity in all products, plastics inclusive.
The Association therefore recommends and advocates Evidence-Based Policymaking that must be driven by comprehensive, context-specific data. The current ban lacks adequate empirical grounding and risks unintended consequences for the economy.
It demanded an Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement, advising that Government should adopt a consultative process, ensuring the perspectives of manufacturers, traders, waste managers, and consumers are integrated into policy design.
It sought Support for Local Alternatives and Infrastructure that requires investment in local production of sustainable materials, recycling plants, and improved waste collection systems to build a truly circular economy among others.