Ban on styrofoam effective Monday – Lagos.

 Ban on styrofoam effective Monday – Lagos.

The Lagos State Government has said full enforcement of the ban on the usage and distribution of styrofoam food containers all over the state would commence today (Monday).

On January 21, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his X handle, announced an immediate ban on the use of single-use plastics including styrofoam due to their non-biodegradable nature.

However, in another post on his X account on January 25, the commissioner said the state would “delay the commencement of enforcement of the ban by three weeks after which the government will go on full enforcement of the law.”

Wahab, during a meeting held with all market leaders on Friday, announced the commencement of the ban, according to a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, on Saturday.

He said, “The enforcement of the ban on usage and distribution of Styrofoam food containers all over the state will commence on Monday. Enforcement officers from LAGESC/KAI, environmental health officials, LAWMA police, and the ministry will go after all those having Styrofoams in their shops, stores, or outlets and confiscate them.

“Styrofoam usage has caused enough damage to the health of the residents and the state of the environment for so many years and the government is determined to encourage viable options for Styrofoam containers across the metropolis.”

In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, urged market leaders to ensure cleanliness in their respective marketplaces, adding that selling on the roads should be discouraged by all.

In her response, the Iyaloja General, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, who was represented by the Iya-Oja, Lagos Island, Mrs Risikat Lasisi, noted that they would ensure that market sanitation “continues as a daily task that all market leaders will adopt”.