Lagos To Commence Enforcement Of Ban On Styrofoam Monday

The Lagos State government has announced that it would on Monday begin full enforcement of the ban on usage and distribution of Styrofoam food containers in the state.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during a meeting with market leaders in the state.

According to a statement by the Director Public Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, the commissioner noted that enforcement officers from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI; environmental health officials and Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Police and the ministry will go after all those having the styrofoams in their shops, stores or outlets and confiscate them.

Wahab stated that the use of styrofoam had caused enough damage to the health of the residents and the environment for so many years, adding that the state government is determined to encourage viable option for styrofoam containers across the metropolis.

“I will like to appeal to all our traders to desist from selling on the railway lines and all the roads. Also,we must stop littering our market with wastes. We must segregate our wastes in our respective markets; bag our wastes and ensure we patronize PSP operators,” the commissioner was quoted as saying.

Recall that the Lagos State government in January banned the use and distribution of styrofoam and other single use plastics in the state with immediate effect.

However, following a meeting with representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Restaurant and Food Services Proprietor Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), the state had offered a three week moratorium to producers and distributors of the product, after which, full enforcement will commence.