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Lagos Plastic Ban Could Kill Thousands of Jobs, Cripple Trade – Manufacturers Cry Out
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Lagos State Government to urgently reconsider its proposed ban on single-use plastics (SUPs), warning that the policy could have profound economic, operational, and social repercussions for manufacturers, traders, recyclers, and end users.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment recently announced that the ban on select SUPs will take effect from July 1, 2025, as part of its strategy to address environmental pollution.
However, in a statement, MAN criticized the move, saying it lacks credible data, sufficient stakeholder consultation, and poses a threat to jobs and livelihoods.
“This is not a plastic problem, but a waste management failure. Pollution stems from poor handling of plastic waste—not from the material itself,” said MAN’s Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir.
He cautioned that banning SUPs without scalable alternatives or the infrastructure to support a transition will not solve environmental issues, but simply replace one challenge with another.
Jobs and Livelihoods Under Threat
Citing findings from a study it commissioned, MAN revealed that:
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100% of surveyed manufacturers fear job cuts and restructuring if the ban is implemented.
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89% of plastic value chain actors depend on SUPs as their primary income source.
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Over 75% of end users, including SMEs, rely on plastic packaging due to the lack of affordable alternatives.
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93% of dealers—many of whom are women—reported no awareness or social support plans ahead of the policy.
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Recyclers are concerned the ban will cut off feedstock supply for already underutilized plants.
“There’s no safety net for the employees who will lose their jobs if this ban goes through,” the association warned.
Economic and Industrial Fallout
MAN further stated that the ban could result in a significant loss of export revenue, as many manufacturers in Lagos serve other Nigerian states and African markets. Disruption in plastic packaging could also compromise product integrity, especially since alternatives like paper and kenaf are costly and in short supply.
The association pointed out that Nigeria’s plastic recycling capacity remains severely underused due to poor collection systems, with current recycling rates for plastic packaging hovering below 15%, compared to 52.5% in the UK and 68.9% in Germany.
A Call for a Circular Economy
Instead of a blanket ban, MAN advocated for a circular economy model, recommending investment in recycling infrastructure—such as sorting and collection systems—and local production of sustainable alternatives.
The group urged the Lagos government to work with stakeholders, including manufacturers, recyclers, traders, and consumers, and to align efforts with existing industry initiatives like the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA).
MAN also referenced the National Plastic Action Roadmap and the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management (NPPWM), which support circularity and were developed through inclusive consultations.
“Nigeria should not cripple its petrochemical industry by banning plastics,” MAN stated. “Instead, we should focus on closing the loop by ensuring all plastics are reused and recycled.”
The association warned against copying foreign models blindly and cited Canada’s $1.8 billion investment in Dow Chemical’s plastic-to-zero plant as an example of effective policy focused on innovation and recycling—not prohibition.
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