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– Lagos upholds styrofoam ban for health
– Public safety, not politics, drives plastic ban
– Lagos enforces styrofoam ban to protect citizens
Lagos State Government has firmly rejected claims that its styrofoam ban is politically motivated, stating that the decision is purely rooted in public health and environmental protection. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Gaji Tajudeen, described suggestions otherwise as “unfounded and a cheap blackmail.” He emphasized that the state’s primary responsibility is to safeguard lives and property, adding that the potential threat posed by plastic pollution to drainage systems, marine ecosystems, and human health cannot be ignored.
The government also highlighted that the ban followed years of stakeholder consultations dating back to 2019—engaging groups such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and labour organizations. These consultations reinforced the environmental rationale supporting the ban. Enforcement began in earnest this year, with markets and stores found selling banned items being sealed, and fines and confiscation in place to ensure compliance.