*Lagos residents and consumers of styrofoam, Single-Use Plastics and sachet water express concerns over the Lagos State Government鈥檚 recent proposal to ban the use of the products, noting the move will lead to loss of jobs and disrupt economic activities

*Policy is designed to establish sustainable guidelines for managing plastic wastes while protecting public health and the environment, says Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Against the backdrop of the Lagos State Government鈥檚 (LASG) recent proposal to ban styrofoam, Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), and sachet water across the metropolis, some Lagos residents, producers, and consumers of the products have expressed concerns over the proposed move, stating the move will lead to loss of jobs and disrupt economic activities.

The SUPs and sachet water consumers, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Sunday, October 13, 2024, appealed to the state government to have a rethink over the proposed ban.

It is recalled that Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, in Lagos State, announced plans to ban SUPs and sachet water by January 2025 at a recent stakeholders鈥� workshop.

The Commissioner explained the policy is designed to establish sustainable guidelines for managing plastic waste while protecting public health and the environment.

He also noted that styrofoam and single-use plastics take centuries to degrade, making the ban essential for environmental protection.

Wahab said the Lagos State Government was working closely with the private sector organisations to provide alternatives for styrofoam containers and other SUPs, while supporting research into new technological solutions.

However, the proposed ban on styrofoam, SUPs and sachet water has sent shockwaves to the manufacturing and retail sectors, sparking fears of job losses, economic disruption, and uncertainty among stakeholders, agency report said.

The ban has also raised concerns among water vendors. who rely heavily on sachet water for their livelihood.

Stakeholders react to proposed ban on SUPs, sachet water

Mr. Akinyemi Bolaji, a Lagos resident and Sales Manager at Aremson Water Limited, that the ban would make a lot of people become unemployed.

Akinyemi was quoted to have said: 鈥淚 am more particular about employment. The ban will not favour anyone, and it will make thousands of people lose their source of livelihood.

鈥淥n the other hand, what is the reason for the ban? People are consuming it on a daily basis, so is there any way the government is putting it out to give people clean water?

鈥淭here should be other alternatives to curb the whole recycling issue.鈥�

The Sales Manager of Aremson Water Limited, while commending the government for the initiative, however, appealed for a better alternative to ensure the ban won鈥檛 affect the jobs of people in the water business.

鈥淭he government should help in educating the people on proper disposal properly as it鈥檚 written on the body of the plastic.

鈥淓radicating all these factories that produce the SUPs is not the best way. It鈥檚 a solution in one aspect and hazardous in another,鈥� stated he.

Akinyemi as well urged the Lago State Government to put a bin at every bus stop and house in order to curb the problem of Single-Use Plastics blocking the drainage across the metropolis.

Mrs. Vera Osiyemi, a retail water dealer, averred that sachet water has been the best way of curbing cholera in the state.

She stated: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it is going to be possible. This is what everyone consumes. If the government bans it, does it mean we are going back to our old way of selling iced water?鈥�

鈥淭he solution is to create an awareness, educate the people on how to dispose it properly and provide bins. Just like we had in the old days, it was in every house,鈥� Osiyemi said.

In her comment on the proposal to ban the products, Mrs. Afusat Ajibola, also a water seller, said that the ban might not be possible because the main idea was to get clean water.

Mrs. Ajibola stated: 鈥淚f the government eventually bans it, it will result in a serious cholera outbreak.

鈥淚t is not possible. The government can ban it, but it cannot work. There is no way we are going back to selling iced water.鈥�

According to the water dealer, the government might have a way of controlling those that consume it.

鈥淚t is to provide for bins and continue to keep Lagos clean,鈥� she said.

Miss Joy Okafor, another water seller, said she was not aware of the proposed ban in Lagos State, report said.

鈥淓ven if there would be a ban, we should understand that it鈥檚 not just the single use and sachet nylon water that block the drainage.

鈥淭here are other causes like disposables as well.

鈥淕overnment knows what is best, but in this case, it is not possible. Will they provide clean pipe borne water for streets and houses?

鈥淲hat will be the next step of the government? The only thing I鈥檓 seeing is more of unemployment, because people sell it to make ends meet,鈥� she said.

Miss Okafor urged the state government to look for a means to curb the problem at disposing it, not banning it.

鈥業鈥檓 uncertain about the future of sachet water business鈥�

Mr. Chinedu Eze, a water distributor in the state, as well noted that he is uncertain about what would happen next after the ban.

Eze stated: 鈥淚 have been in the business for years. Now, I鈥檓 uncertain about the future. This isn鈥檛 just about access to water, it鈥檚 about the survival for thousands of us,鈥� he said.

Another Lagos resident simply identified as Mummy Boma, a street vendor, told NAN that the proposed ban would affect her livelihood.

The vendor said: 鈥淪elling pure water helps me feed my children and send them to school. Bottled water is too expensive to buy or sell in bulk.

鈥淭he government should rather enforce stricter regulations on sachet water producers to ensure better quality control and hygiene standards.鈥�

Dr. Olufemi Adeyemi, a resident and medical doctor in Lagos, opined that Lagosians could lose access to potable and affordable water due to the ban on SUPs and sachet water.

Adeyemi explained: 鈥淭hough some sachet water contain contaminated water due to lack of regulation, the government needs to provide alternative safe water sources before any ban is enforced.

鈥淲ithout proper preparation, banning 鈥榩ure water鈥� could leave millions of Nigerians without a reliable and affordable water option.

鈥淚nstead of an outright ban, the government could invest in public water systems to ensure a reliable supply of clean water in both urban and rural areas.鈥�

This would reduce the population鈥檚 dependence on sachet water in the state, stated he.

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