The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reiterated the government’s commitment to the recent ban on styrofoam during a consultative meeting with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Restaurant and Food Services Proprietor Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN) at the Alausa secretariat in Ikeja on January 25, 2024.
Wahab acknowledged the concerns raised by MAN and REFSPAN representatives, suggesting that the enforcement could be extended by three weeks to allow producers and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry to deplete their existing stock.
Highlighting the three-year-long dialogue preceding the enforcement, Wahab emphasized the significant health and environmental damage caused by styrofoam usage. He expressed the government’s determination to prioritize public health over commercial losses, stating, “Government is putting a human face to this ban by giving a three-month moratorium to producers and entrepreneurs in the hospitality business.”
Wahab underscored the adverse effects of styrofoam on lives, the ecosystem, and aquatic life, asserting that the ban was essential. He emphasized that leadership involves making tough decisions for the greater good, and appeals to reconsider the ban were akin to prolonging the consumption of poison to mitigate manufacturers’ losses.
The initial announcement of the ban cited the environmental impact of ‘takeaway packs’ and other single-use plastics as a driving force behind the decision.
