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Lagos State Single Use Plastic Ban: Rethinking Nigeria's Policy Environment

Published: 4th Mar, 2024

Duration: 5min Read

Over the past few decades, the manufacturing and use of plastics have been identified as responsible for several environmental concerns ranging from the pollution of water bodies, poisoning of waterways with carcinogens, and littering. Governments, concerned individuals, and industry experts have discussed these harmful effects, ranging from carbon emissions to single-use plastics in numerous developed and developing countries. Responses have featured sensitisations on how the careless handling of single-use plastics harms the ecosystem and the opting for safer, biodegradable options in parts of Europe, North America, South America and Asia. On the Nigerian scene, the first reaction is often outright bans on these plastics, thus generating chaos as uninformed citizens battle with few viable replacements.

Single-use plastics (SUPs) are disposable items made from petrochemicals. These materials could be straws, PET (polyethene terephthalate) bottles, plastic bags (popularly called nylons), plastic spoons and forks, etc. According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world produces twice the amount of plastics produced two decades ago. The report also states that only 9% of plastics are recycled globally, and 22% need to be managed . Given this information, it is conceivable that a large population could lead to an escalation in plastic usage, as exemplified in Nigeria or even in Lagos, a city regarded as Nigeria’s commercial capital. An article by Negative Population Growth (NPG) affirms this by stating that the rising growth in the population of some American states, such as Texas, California, and Florida, has led to a large amount of plastic waste.

Globally, humans produce up to 350 million tons of plastic waste yearly and is expected to double by 2060. Also, Africa recycles only about 4% of its waste, and 13% of its municipal waste is plastic. This presents a problem as the unrecycled waste gets dumped into waterbodies or landfills, further degrading the ecosystem.

The Dangers of Single-use Plastics

SUPs are products of a fast consumer-driven culture. It is necessary to use these materials on the go and dispose of them instantly, thus making them a go-to for carrying and wrapping items. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that between one and five trillion plastic bags are utilised annually globally. 5 trillion plastic bags, if gathered in one place, would cover an area twice the size of France.

The problem lies in the non-biodegradable nature of the materials from which they were fashioned. Studies suggest that the decomposition of plastics and styrofoam could take decades, thus contaminating soil and water and posing significant ingestion hazards to wildlife on land and water. The long lifespan of plastics significantly impacts the proliferation of plastic waste worldwide.

Single-use plastics are pervasive, readily available, and susceptible to disposal in landfills or through pollution, which can result in their introduction into the marine environment. The enduring nature of plastics contributes to the escalation of these effects with each passing year. Plastic packaging waste, which comprises single-use plastic intended for immediate disposal, comprised 47% of the total plastic waste produced worldwide in 2015.

Overview of the Lagos SUPs Ban

Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources of the Lagos State Government, announced the prohibition of single-use plastics and Styrofoam containers. “In response to the environmental damage caused by single-use plastics, particularly non-biodegradable styrofoam, the Lagos State government, via the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, hereby prohibits the use and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the state immediately," he wrote in a post. It is crucial to acknowledge that there had been no prior discourse regarding the prohibition of SUPs and styrofoam containers in Lagos before this X post.

As stated on the official website of the Lagos state government, this decision responds to the obstruction of most drainage channels by the indiscriminate distribution and utilisation of styrofoam packets despite the drains being routinely cleaned and evacuated in substantial quantities. Since Lagos state generates about 870,000 tonnes of plastic waste yearly, the motivations for the ban are honest and geared toward eliminating pollution.

On May 19, 2019, the Nigerian House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the use of plastic bags in the country. The bill accounts for a fine of 500,000 naira and a jail term of three years if a vendor fails to provide a paper bag for buyers. Note that this bill has not directly reflected on the Nigerian populace because from 2019 till now, there have not been discussions around the enactment before the Lagos commissioner voiced out. Several researchers have concluded that the bill was punitive.

Global Outlook of Plastic Ban Policies

The OECD explains that bans and taxes have been used as legislative tools to reduce plastic waste, having been adopted by over 120 countries. However, they have only had a minute impact on reducing plastic waste globally.

Bangladesh was one of the first countries to adopt a ban on plastic bags in 2002. The government discovered that plastic bags contributed to the blockage of drainage systems, thus leading to the ban. By 2018, the United Nations Environment announced that 127 countries had adopted policies to reduce single-use-plastic usage.

In Europe, in accordance with Directive 2015/720, member states of the European Union were obligated to attain a per capita plastic bag reduction of 40 by December 31, 2025. Thus, taxes were introduced to reduce the use of plastics. European researchers credited it as a credible plastic governance tool. Unlike their European counterparts, countries in Africa and Asia adopted a plastic bag ban; Bangladesh, China and India are forerunners in Asia, while Rwanda is prominent in Africa.

For Rwanda, the ban was influential in reducing the use of plastics. However, adopting these policies has yet to significantly alter the state of affairs globally. China and India are still among the largest contributors to global plastic waste.

Legislation on the use of plastics in Rwanda was ingrained in a national philosophy. The Legislation was adopted as a part of the National Cleanup Day to reduce waste in Rwanda. In South Africa, the result of a Plastic Bag tax is different as the country battles plastic bag waste. Citizens have become used to paying for plastic bags, thus leading to an increase in their use.

Rethinking Nigeria’s Ban Policy Environment

Nigeria is grappling with an economic crisis at the moment. Even though a nationwide ban on SUPs appears highly probable, it will have unintended repercussions. The country’s resort to banning products instead of deliberations to wean citizens off them identifies the irrationality of the government’s policy-making process. Note that the enduring consequences of former president Muhammadu Buhari's 2015 ban on food imports continue to significantly impact Nigeria in 2024.

In view of the ineffectiveness of bans, a reevaluation of our policy environment is necessary. Policies should be supported by the institutions that will impact those policies. Regarding the prohibition in Lagos state, which lacks an effective waste collection and disposal system, hasty implementation is not advised. The state government could devise other means to make managing plastic waste a possibility. In a public-private partnership, the state could work on giving out incentives to citizens submitting plastic waste to disposal centres. As implemented in Malaysia, this practice could deter littering and indiscriminate waste disposal. Also, the state could encourage proper waste disposal by putting waste disposal boxes or bins at major bus stops or working with the local governments to make them available on the streets.

In a country with high illiteracy rates and millions of out-of-school children, public sensitisation should be prioritised. Nigeria continues to grapple with a significant prevalence of illiteracy, which affects about 31% of the entire population. The Lagos State government began sensitisations on the effects of SUPs after the ban declaration and proceeded to extend the implementation by three weeks. The chaotic aftermath of the ban announcement demonstrates that the prohibition lacks effectiveness, notwithstanding its well-intentioned nature.

A lack of social responsibility in Nigerians also poses a problem. Citizens need a reorientation on the benefits of proper waste management and disposal. Waste-to-wealth and waste-energy initiatives can be considered by the ministries responsible. The government can provide a favourable regulatory framework to achieve this and make it a reality. Practical steps like educating citizens on the benefits of waste to energy/wealth systems can set the pace for a progression to complete bans on single-use plastics.

Additionally, Nigeria must improve its institutional process. Policy decisions should be the subject of open dialogue; this process should pay attention to accountability and transparency. Open dialogues can enhance policy discussions and clarify the problems that must be solved before authorising a ban. There is a need for the government to assemble relevant stakeholders to understand the kind of policies that can advance Nigerian society. Policymakers should also not disregard policy research. Formulating policies is insufficient; staying informed about evolving circumstances, new evidence, and stakeholder feedback is also essential.

Policymaking, when utilised, produces results that will benefit not only the government but also the citizens. Rethinking our policy environment is crucial to the necessity of the country we are hoping to build. It is vital that the government leads policy efforts with empathy and understands that outright bans are not good directions in the right processes but could be final solutions to a well-thought-out policy process.

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