Lagos battles plastic waste as fears of cash cow emerge

Adedamola Usman

Lagos, a city teeming with over 20 million people, is drowning in plastic. From the bustling markets of Balogun to the clogged canals of Surulere, single-use plastics are a constant, unwelcome feature of the landscape.

They block drains, worsen floods, and choke marine life. In response to this escalating crisis, the Lagos State Government has declared war, rolling out a phased ban on single-use plastics.

The policy is a bold and necessary step towards a cleaner environment. However, as the ban begins to take effect, a new reality is emerging on the streets and in the supermarkets, turning environmental policy to corporate profiting.

While the government aims to curb pollution, many residents and small business owners are feeling the pinch.

The question on everyone’s mind is: Is this ban truly solving the problem, or is it creating a new one, turning a public good into a private profit machine?

The Lagos State government’s plan is comprehensive. It started with a ban on Styrofoam food containers in January 2024, a move that sent a clear signal of its intentions.

This was the first step towards a full-scale enforcement against a wider range of single-use plastics, which officially began on July 1, 2025.
What exactly is banned?
Styrofoam food packs: Due to their harmful environmental impact.
Plastic straws, disposable cups, and cutlery: To reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability.
Lightweight nylon bags: Specifically, those less than 40 microns thick, because they are not easily reusable and are non-biodegradable.

The government’s reasoning is clear: these items are the biggest culprits in the city’s pollution problem.

They are used for a few minutes but persist in the environment for hundreds of years. The government has warned that any business found selling or distributing these banned items will be sealed, and the owners will be prosecuted.

The goal is to force a shift in behavior, pushing both consumers and businesses towards more sustainable alternatives.
While the policy is clear on paper, its execution on the ground is far more complicated. In many parts of Lagos, it is still business as usual.

Local markets and street vendors, who rely heavily on cheap nylon bags to package everything from peppers to fish, continue to use them. Many are either unaware of the full extent of the ban or have no affordable alternatives.

For a trader in Ile-Epo Market, the ban presents a serious challenge. “What will I use to wrap tomatoes or meat?” asks one seller.

“They ban nylon but they don’t give us another option that we can afford.” This sentiment is echoed across the city, where the ban is seen by many small-scale entrepreneurs as a threat to their livelihood.

The most visible change has been in the city’s large supermarkets. Chains like Just Rite, Ebeano and Jendol who have stopped providing free plastic bags at the checkout counter. Instead, customers are now asked to pay for reusable bags or thicker plastic bags, with prices often starting from ₦100 to ₦150 per bag.
This has been met with mixed reactions. Some shoppers see it as a positive step that encourages them to bring their own bags.

“I think the scheme is to encourage people to bring their bags. That way, disposal of nylons in the environment will be curbed,” one shopper noted. Others, however, see it as an unfair additional cost in an already difficult economic climate.

This is the heart of the debate. Is charging over ₦100 for a plastic bag a legitimate way to discourage its use, or is it simply an opportunity for large retailers to increase their profits?
The Argument for a solution, environmental advocates argue that putting a price on plastic bags is a proven method to reduce their use. It forces consumers to think twice before taking a new bag and encourages the habit of carrying reusable ones.

They believe that any inconvenience is a small price to pay for the long-term environmental benefits of cleaner drainage systems, reduced flooding, and a healthier ecosystem. While the argument for a Cash Cow critics are skeptical and stress their point out that these supermarkets used to absorb the cost of bags as part of their service. Now, they are selling them at a significant markup.

There are no regulations forcing these companies to invest the money they make from selling bags into environmental projects. For many Lagosians, it feels less like an environmental policy and more like another way for big businesses to make money from the average citizen.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has also raised concerns, warning that the ban could lead to significant job losses in the plastics industry without solving the root problem.

They argue that the issue is not plastic itself, but the lack of a proper waste management system in the state.
Ultimately, the way forward is beyond the ban on plastic bags but one part of a much larger solution.

For Lagos to truly win its war on plastic, it’s imperative for the government to adopt a more holistic approach by investing in proper waste management to build a robust system for collecting, sorting, and recycling waste, Promote alternatives by concerted effort to make sustainable alternatives like paper bags, cloth bags, and biodegradable packaging affordable and widely available, Embark on a comprehensive and massive public awareness to educate citizens on the importance of reducing waste and recycling properly, and Encourage producers to be environmentally responsible with a policy, which makes manufacturers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their disposal.

The ban on single-use plastics is a crucial first step. However, its success will not be measured by how many supermarkets charge for bags, but by a visible reduction of plastic waste on the streets and in the waterways of Lagos. Without a comprehensive strategy that supports citizens and small businesses through this transition, the policy risks being seen not as a solution, but as another burden on the people it is meant to protect.

About the Author

Adedamola Usman is a strategic communication expert who has worked with brands across diverse industries, with a focus on sustainability and impact.

In addition to strategic communications, Adedamola currently serves as Deputy Manager, Media Buying and Client Service at Gems Communications Limited, where he develops sustainable and impact-driven communication strategies.