SEO Riders:
– MAN warns of job losses and economic strain from sudden ban on single‑use plastics.
– Waste pickers and SMEs call for phased implementation and better stakeholder engagement.
– Experts argue recycling hubs and private‑sector incentives are more sustainable than outright prohibition.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), led by DG Segun Ajayi‑Kadir, has urged the Lagos State government to reconsider the July 1 ban on single-use plastics (SUPs), citing risks to jobs, businesses, and low-income households. MAN’s commissioned study found 100% of manufacturers fear workforce reductions and 89% rely on SUPs as their primary income, with little to no support in place for impacted workers. The association emphasized that plastic pollution stems from poor waste management, not the material itself, and warned that without affordable alternatives or infrastructure, the ban could worsen unemployment and poverty.
Stakeholders from across the plastics value chain—including the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos—echoed these concerns, urging for an 18–36‑month phased rollout to allow SMEs and informal operators time to adjust. They also called for proper awareness campaigns and development of recycling hubs and circular‑economy incentives. Health and nutrition experts have recommended safe, biodegradable alternatives (e.g., paper or bamboo containers), while some policymakers stressed the government should have engaged stakeholders before implementing the ban. Industry groups advocate recycling over outright bans to balance environmental goals with economic realities.
