Lagos State Government on Sunday announced the total ban on single use plastic containers popular called “takeaway”. It also announced the closure of the popular Katangua Market and the Oke Afa Market over environmental offences.
The announcement for the ban on the use of ‘takeaway’ was made by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement he personally signed.
According to Wahab, the decision was reached following the menace which the single use plastics especially the non-biogradeable Styrofoam was causing on the environment.
He added that most drainage channels in the state are daily clogged up by Styrofoam and other plastics through its indiscriminate distribution and usage despite the regular cleaning and evacuation of the drains with humongous amounts.
He reiterated that the larger chunk of litterings across major roads and markets which LAWMA contends with daily is made up of styrofoams.
The Commissioner added that the State Government cannot fold its hands and watch the continued desecration of its environment, especially for a coastal city.
Wahab subsequently directed the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline to immediately commence the implementation of the ban.
He tasked the two agencies to clamp down on all the production companies and distribution outlets for Styrofoam in the state to prevent further distribution.
Wahab explained that the State relied on enabling laws like the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation 2009 which was established pursuant to NESREA Act that prohibited and specifically ban single use plastic in the country but has not been enforced.
Other laws, according to Wahab, include the 2017 State Environmental Management and Protection Law which states under section 56(I) (y) “prevent, stop or discontinue any activity or omission, which is likely to cause harm or has caused harm to human health or the environment.
The Commissioner advised producers, distributors, and end-users of these styrofoam packs to take the ban seriously and find alternatives or risk heavy fines, and other penalties including sealing of their premises.
He warned that they could also be made to bear the costs of the daily cleanup of their products from our roads and drainage channels which runs into tens of millions of naira daily.
“Our state cannot be held hostage to the economic interests of a few wealthy business owners compared to the millions of Lagosians suffering the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of single use plastics and other types of waste”, he stated.
He advised consumers and residents to boycott styrofoam packs and single use plastics while imbibing the practice of using reusable food containers and water bottles for their food and drinks.
“The convenience of single use plastic comes at a huge cost to the society. We must all make small sacrifices for our collective well-being”, Wahab pleaded.
In a related development, the Lagos State Government also on Sunday evening announced the sealing of the popular Katangua Market at Ile Epo and Oke Afa Market in Isolo over environmental sanitation violations.
GrandNews Online reports that the two markets were shut over filth and sundry environmental offences.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed the closure of the two markets on Sunday in two separate terse posts on his verified X account @thetundeajayi at about 3.pm.
Ajayi described the Katangua case as “gross environmental sanitation violations”.
He wrote: “Katangua market sealed today 21st January, 2024 by the monitoring and compliance team of LAWMA due to gross environmental sanitation violations.
“Oke Afa market, Isolo was sealed up due to environmental sanitation and poor waste disposal practices today 21st January, 2024 by the Monitoring and Compliance Department.”
He splashed the post with pictures of the markets and some personnel of the agency at work.
