Determined to reduce the 870,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated annually across Lagos, the State Government has sealed two business premises in Alimosho Local Government for non-compliance with the Lagos State ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs).
The firms sealed by the government were the Place Restaurant, Akowonjo, and Cravings Eatery and Supermarket, Egbeda-Akowonjo axis of the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunboh Wahab, who confirmed the development on Thursday, said that the action was taken to protect the state from pollution.
Wahab added that the protection of Lagos’ environment is a shared responsibility that must be undertaken by everyone residing in the state, saying we all must play our part.
According to him, “Enforcement officers from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources sealed The Place Restaurant, Akowonjo, and Cravings Eatery and Supermarket, Egbeda-Akowonjo, for non-compliance with the Lagos State ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs).
“The ban on SUPs is not a suggestion but a necessary step to protect our environment from plastic pollution that blocks drainage, causes flooding, and endangers aquatic life.
“We will continue to enforce compliance across all sectors until Lagos achieves full adherence. Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility, and every business must play its part”.
Earlier, he stressed that the enforcement decision was mainly for the safety and well-being of residents, which the government will never compromise.
“Lagos, as a coastal state, realises the enormous dangers that styrofoam packs & SUPs of less than 40 microns cause our drainage channels and ecosystem, causing blockades and compelling the government to channel funds that should be deployed for the provision of other social services to clearing of debris from our drains,” he said.
He stated that the ban of single-use plastics was first effected in Bangladesh in 2002, as well as in other major cities, and as at 1st of August, 2019, such bans have been introduced in over 70 countries of the world with varying degrees of enforcement, whilst 33 countries have imposed a charge per bag policy.
According to him, “For avoidance of doubt, the affected items and reasons for the ban include styrofoam packs, which were banned due to their harmful environmental impacts. “Plastic straws-prohibited to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability. Disposable plastic cups and cutler,y which were banned to minimize plastic pollution in the environment, and lightweight nylon bags, banned due to their non-reusable and non-biodegradable quality,” he added.
