Manufacturers Warn Lagos SUPs Ban Will Cripple 89% of Plastic Value Chain Businesses

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised strong objections to the Lagos State Government’s planned ban on certain single-use plastics (SUPs), warning that the policy could devastate the livelihoods of over 89% of operators in Nigeria’s plastic value chain.

The ban, set to be enforced from July 1, 2025, is part of the state’s push to curb plastic pollution. But MAN, in a statement issued Monday by its Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the policy as “reactionary” and warned it could trigger widespread job losses and business closures, especially among women-led small businesses.

“Over 89% of operators in the plastic value chain depend on SUPs trade as their main source of income,” Ajayi-Kadir said. “Most have no alternative livelihood, and 100% of manufacturers surveyed foresee mass workforce restructuring as a result of the policy.”

Economic Impact Overshadowed by Hasty Policy
A MAN-supported study evaluating the implications of the ban revealed what it called “significant economic, operational, and social risks,” not just for manufacturers but also for wholesalers, traders, recyclers, and consumers.

The group argued that 93% of affected businesses said they had received no information or support from the government to transition away from SUPs, even though the ban was announced a year ago. Many of these businesses, the study found, are micro-entrepreneurs relying on plastics for food packaging and retail.

Ajayi-Kadir also warned that a rushed transition without affordable alternatives could lead to increased consumer prices, compromised product integrity, and the collapse of local recycling industries due to a lack of feedstock.

“Plastic Isn’t the Enemy, Mismanagement Is” – MAN DG
The association insisted that the problem lies not with plastics themselves, but with waste management failures. It called on the state to strengthen the existing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, rather than creating parallel structures like the Lagos Plastic Waste Fund.

“We already have over 40 of our members participating in the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance,” Ajayi-Kadir noted. “The focus should be on building infrastructure for recycling and recovery, not stifling businesses with blanket bans.”

MAN urged Lagos to draw inspiration from the National Plastic Action Roadmap and the draft National Plastic Waste Control Regulation, both of which were developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and align with circular economy principles.

“Policies must balance environmental goals with social and economic realities,” the DG said. “We need systems that promote job creation, not wipe out entire industries.”

Lagos State Responds: “There Was Dialogue”
In response to MAN’s criticisms, Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, disagreed with the association’s claims of exclusion.

“It is improper for MAN to say there was no dialogue,” Oshodi told journalists. “The policy gave a one-year moratorium for stakeholders to prepare. Monthly engagements were also planned before enforcement.”

She added that the state’s intention is not punitive but rooted in long-term environmental protection aligned with global standards.

Echoing this, Lagos Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab posted in March that global best practices must apply in Lagos:

“What is unacceptable elsewhere cannot become standard here. We must protect our future and do what is right for the greater good.”

Wahab has met with several stakeholders in recent months, including Tetra Pak West Africa and FBRA members, to discuss the SUPs ban rollout. In early 2024, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) also engaged MAN on waste management strategies following the state’s earlier ban on Styrofoam packs.

MAN Demands a Rethink, Not a Retreat
While the government insists that adequate time and dialogue were provided, MAN maintains that data-driven alternatives must replace what it describes as a “one-size-fits-all” ban.

Ajayi-Kadir concluded with a call for collaborative reform that prioritises Nigeria’s unique economic realities.

“We support the intent to manage plastic waste. But let’s do it through evidence-based, inclusive policies — not through economic disruption.”

As the July 1 enforcement date nears, tensions between industry stakeholders and the Lagos government appear far from resolved, with both sides emphasizing environmental sustainability but differing sharply on how to get there.