The Federal Government Declares Ban on Certain Plastic Materials Inevitable

The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, announced on Tuesday that the ban on certain plastic materials is unavoidable. 

This statement comes in response to the Lagos State Government's decision to ban Styrofoam and other single-use plastics. Salako praised the move as a strong signal that the issue of single-use plastics must be comprehensively addressed for Nigeria to meet its environmental sustainability goals.

The Federal Ministry of Environment has established an interagency committee to facilitate consultations across government, businesses, and stakeholders, aiming to develop a sustainable solution tailored to the Nigerian context. The ministry is actively exploring policies and initiatives to promote the production of alternatives to plastics.

Salako emphasized the need to address the current poorly regulated and indiscriminate use of plastics, hinting at an impending ban on certain products. He advised Nigerians to adopt personal environmental actions, such as reducing and reusing plastics, and encouraged the exploration of the growing market for plastic waste recycling. 

The ministry plans to launch robust awareness campaigns to prepare the public for the upcoming plastic ban and promote holistic waste management.