On Tuesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, announced the immediate commencement of enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) (less than 40 microns) across the state.
The state government had set a July 1, 2025 deadline for full enforcement, following the ban’s announcement in January 2024.
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Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics, are plastic items such as plastic bags, plastic straws, disposable plastic cups, plastic cutleries, and disposable takeaway packs, that are discarded after only being used once or for a short period of time.
Wahab reiterated on Tuesday that the decision to ban them was made primarily for the safety and well-being of residents.
However, last Monday, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) rejected the state government’s rationale, saying it was out of touch with reality. In a statement, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, argued that the government was taking the easy way out without relying on sufficient data.
“The government’s decision was not informed by credible data. It is out of tune with the reality of our socio-economic situation and is bereft of more ingenious and beneficial solutions,” he said.
He further noted that the Lagos government’s decision was based on unsubstantiated claims of adverse health and environmental impacts, with no published studies to support the assertion.
However, a public notice issued on Tuesday and signed by Gaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, stated that the ban is aimed at protecting public health and the environment.
He noted that studies on the health impacts of plastics are already available in the public domain, adding that the state “does not necessarily need to establish a research institute to check its impact on human health”.
To clarify the controversy, EKO HOT BLOG examined available research and expert opinions on single-use plastics to assess whether they are harmful to public health.
Single-Use Plastics Choke Waterways – Study
In a 2020 study published in Biotica Research Today, researcher L.C. De found that single-use plastics contaminate soil and water, choke waterways, and exacerbate natural disasters. These findings support the Lagos State Ministry of Environment’s position that such plastics block drainage channels.
The researcher estimated that by 2050, about 99% of seabirds will have ingested plastic, increasing the likelihood of food chain contamination.
“They block sewage systems and provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising the risk of malaria transmission. Plastics also release toxic chemicals and emissions if burned,” he added.
Single-Use Plastics Contaminate Freshwater Sources – WHO
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics, can contaminate freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This pollution can lead to the consumption of microplastics through contaminated drinking water, potentially posing risks to human health.
Plastic can also enter the food chain. For instance, plastic waste in oceans breaks down into smaller fragments known as microplastics, which are ingested by marine organisms. When humans consume seafood contaminated with microplastics, there is a risk of microplastic transfer up the food chain, with potentially serious health consequences.
Plastics may also contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the environment and enter the food chain. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals, especially through contaminated food or water, can cause adverse health effects including endocrine disruption, developmental problems, and increased cancer risks, according to the WHO.
Single-Use Plastics Pose Major Risks to Health and Environment – Turkish Expert
In 2022, Turgut Tuzun Onay, Head of the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Boğaziçi University in Turkey, said single-use plastic products continue to cause serious health and waste management problems globally.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Onay said single-use plastics account for two-thirds of the waste found in oceans and seas.
He explained that plastics break down into microplastics due to environmental effects such as wind and rain. As these microplastics interact with marine life, toxic chemicals seep into the food chain.
Single-Use Plastics Contaminate, Accumulate in Food Chains – Environmental Lawyer
David Azoulay, Managing Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), said single-use plastic, in the form of macro- or microplastics, contaminates and accumulates in food chains, where it can release toxic additives or concentrate additional toxic chemicals, reintroducing them into the environment and making them available for human exposure.
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“Individually, each stage of the plastic lifecycle poses significant risks to human health,” he said. “Together, the lifecycle impacts of plastic paint an unequivocally toxic picture: plastic threatens human health on a global scale.”
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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