Styrofoam containers appear to be making a comeback in Lagos, despite the state government’s enforcement of a ban on their use and distribution, which began a year ago.
The ban, introduced in January 2024, was part of efforts to curb the environmental damage caused by single-use plastics, including non-biodegradable polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.
The Lagos State government, through its Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, had confiscated Styrofoam products found in shops across the state during the initial phase of enforcement. Styrofoam is widely used in the production of disposable plates commonly found in eateries.
However, some food vendors have resumed using Styrofoam containers, raising concerns about compliance with the ban. In response, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, directed officers from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), along with officials from the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) and the Ministry, to intensify enforcement and seize Styrofoam from shops, stores, and outlets.
The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment, stating, “Styrofoam usage has caused damage to the health of residents and the state of the environment for so many years. We are determined to encourage viable alternatives to Styrofoam containers across the metropolis.”
Speaking with The Guardian, the spokesperson for KAI, Lukman Ajayi, confirmed that enforcement efforts have not been suspended. “We have not suspended enforcement. From July 1, 2025, massive enforcement will begin,” he said.
Ajayi noted that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had earlier appealed for a 180-day grace period for producers and sellers to transition away from Styrofoam products, which the government granted. “Any marketer or food vendor that uses Styrofoam is contravening the law. From July 1, 2025, we will come out for massive enforcement,” he warned.
He added that Styrofoam seizures were ongoing but that prosecutions would commence in July. “Anyone caught will face three to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N250,000,” Ajayi said. (Agency Report)
