The Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos has urged the Lagos State government to undertake a phased ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) instead of an outright ban ahead of the July 1 enforcement deadline.

The president of ASWOL, Friday Oku, in an interview with journalists on Sunday, said there should be at least three years’ notice to dealers and producers of SUPs to venture into other businesses in order not to create unnecessary unemployment.

He noted that the ban, if implemented, would impact the economy of the dealers and producers.

Mr Oku said the government did not embark on an adequate campaign and awareness before going ahead with the proposal to ban SUPs.

Also, some dealers and producers of SUPs described the proposed ban of SUPs by July 1 as insensitive at a time of economic challenge, adding that enough time should be given to them to seek alternative means of livelihood.

Bunmi Ayeni, a dealer at the Ikotun Market in Lagos, said the timing for the ban was too short for her to begin to think of any other business to do.

Anthony Ugbe, a producer of nylon materials in Ayobo, said he had invested much money in the business and feared the ban could end it.

“If the government goes on with the ban, that will mean the end of my business,” Mr Ugbe said. “There should be a lot of time and awareness to get us in the sector prepared.”

Another seller of nylon materials and styrofoam at Iyana Ipaja market, Precious Ibeh, said the economy had been very challenging, wondering what she would fall back on when the ban is enforced.

Ms Ibeh said she suffered huge losses during the initial ban on styrofoam in 2024, adding that she had to take them to a neighbouring state to sell.

However, Gbenga Komolafe, the general secretary, Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, said the ban on SUPs is a well-reasoned action.

Mr Komolafe decried the use of styrofoam for food packaging, adding that it pollutes the food and makes it unfit for consumption.

“It is a well-reasoned action, but needs a lot of sensitisation and engagement of the people who have the need to use it. The ban has implications for their little businesses,” Mr Komolafe said.

He also decried the use of nylons, saying, “In some other parts of the world, people have adopted paper for packaging.”

Mr Komolafe said using nylon to pack edibles was “poisonous” and poses a serious environmental problem because it clogs drains and is not easily biodegradable.

The Lagos State government, on May 20, clarified that its statewide ban on single-use plastics did not include PET bottles and sachet water.

The Commissioner For Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said in a statement that some of those exempted from the ban were nylon carrier bags of more than 40-micron thickness.

(NAN)