The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev) Nigeria has backed the Lagos government ban on single-use plastics.

Leslie Adogame, SRADev Nigeria’s executive director, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Adogame described the decision as a monumental step in protecting the environment and public health.

Mr Adogame noted that the ban, which followed the successful earlier ban on styrofoam, reflected the state’s unwavering commitment to addressing the growing crisis of plastic pollution in Lagos megacity.

He said that the National Plastic Waste Regulations 2023 by NESREA, soon to be gazetted, enshrines a ban on similar single-used plastics effective from 2025.

Mr Adogame added that the Federal Executive Council recently approved the ban on SUPs in all ministries, departments and agencies with immediate effect.

“SRADev Nigeria also recognises the peculiarity of Lagos State as a major producer of SUPs with less than 20 per cent recycling capacity and should necessarily adopt stricter measures to curb the menace,” said the SRADev boss.

Mr Adogame noted that many African cities with less severe plastic pollution challenges had taken similar moves in the past 10 years. He added that Lagos State, a megacity, could not continue to promote the circular economy paradigm and its climate change commitment side by side with the current production and use of SUPs in 2024.

“Therefore, it is imperative and overtly timely for the state government to declare the phase-out of single-use plastics effective from January 2025 to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for all residents,” Mr Adogame said.

(NAN)