The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has issued a strong warning against the planned ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) in Lagos State, stating that the policy could erase the livelihoods of over 89 percent of stakeholders in the plastic value chain and destabilise a key segment of the state’s informal and manufacturing economy.
In a statement released on Monday, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, criticised the Lagos State Government for pushing forward with the policy without credible data or broad stakeholder consultation.
He urged the authorities to suspend the implementation and consider a more inclusive, evidence-based, and sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution.
According to findings from a MAN-supported study evaluating the potential impacts of the ban, the policy poses significant economic, social, and operational risks.
Ajayi-Kadir revealed that “over 89 percent of operators in the plastic value chain depend on trading these SUPs as their sole source of income, with no viable alternative.”
He added that 100 percent of surveyed manufacturers anticipate that the ban will trigger extensive workforce restructuring.
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment is set to commence enforcement of the ban on July 1, 2025. However, the policy has drawn growing criticism from industry players, who argue that it fails to reflect the complex realities of the sector.
The study indicated that 93 percent of businesses affected by the proposed ban, many of which are women-led, had received no communication, support, or transition framework from the government.
Ajayi-Kadir maintained that the underlying problem is not the plastics themselves but the inefficiencies in managing plastic waste.
“It is the failure in plastic waste management that leads to environmental degradation. The focus should be on strengthening recycling systems and ensuring responsible consumption,” he said.
MAN also questioned the introduction of a proposed Lagos State Plastic Waste Fund, calling instead for the government to consolidate existing efforts under the national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme.
The association highlighted that over 40 of its member companies already subscribe to the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance under the EPR framework.
The statement further criticised the state’s approach as “reactionary and unsustainable,” warning that the economic consequences of a rushed implementation could be severe. “There are no commercially viable or affordable alternatives to SUPs currently available for traders, especially in the food sector. This will compromise product integrity, raise costs, and ultimately burden consumers,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
The ban also poses risks to Nigeria’s recycling industry. Recyclers are expected to suffer from reduced feedstock supply, while manufacturers may experience export disruptions and supply challenges across Nigeria and West African markets.
MAN has called for a policy rethink, urging Lagos State to collaborate with industry stakeholders to devise a balanced solution that incorporates social, economic, and environmental considerations without undermining livelihoods and local enterprise.
As Nigeria grapples with inflation, job creation challenges, and industrial policy reform, analysts suggest that poorly executed environmental regulations could compound existing economic fragilities and disrupt fragile value chains.
