In January, the Nigerian government announced a ban on single-use plastics, set to take effect next month.
Labake Ajiboye-Richard, the founder of a Lagos-based sustainability consultancy, was driving in Nigeria’s bustling city of Lagos when she witnessed someone throwing rubbish out of a car window.
“I was stunned to see this in 2024,” she remarked. “If people are littering roads like this, what must their homes and communities look like?”
Lagos, like much of Nigeria, grapples with a severe waste management issue, particularly concerning plastics. According to World Bank data, Nigeria generates 27.6 million kilotonnes of municipal solid waste annually—one of the highest volumes globally—of which 13% is plastic. Alarmingly, only about 10% of this plastic is recycled. Research by the UN Environment Programme earlier this year revealed that Lagos alone sees an estimated 50-60 million used water sachets discarded on its streets daily.
However, signs of readiness for implementation are scant. Across markets in Lagos and other cities, food vendors and traders remain largely unaware of the ban, with many citing the rising cost of living as their primary concern.
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu and Central Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso have initiated economic reforms praised by global financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF. Yet, many Nigerians say the benefits of these reforms are yet to reach them. For citizens like 28-year-old taxi driver Amos Adeyanju, day-to-day survival takes precedence. “I spend almost half my earnings on fuel and food. Why should I pay more for alternatives when plastic is cheaper and more convenient?” he questioned, using popular nicknames “T-Pain” and “Cardi B” to refer to Tinubu and Cardoso.
While federal authorities have banned single-use plastics in government offices and promised a framework to enforce the ban nationwide, experts remain unconvinced. Adewunmi Emoruwa, lead policy strategist at Gatefield, an Abuja-based public strategy group, criticized the effort as “lacklustre.” He noted, “The industry has had decades to address this but continues to influence regulators with outdated arguments. Without fiscal strategies that align with policy goals, enforceable rules become mere suggestions.”
Experts argue that many unsustainable practices involving plastics are relatively new in African traditions. In the past, food was wrapped in banana leaves, and fermentation extended the shelf life of edibles. They advocate for reviving these practices alongside introducing incentives to shift behaviors.
Ajiboye-Richard emphasized the need to address attitudes towards single-use plastics. “Behavior change is essential. People need to understand why plastics harm the environment. Financial incentives can be powerful motivators,” she said. Without such measures, significant progress remains unlikely. “If these strategies are implemented, I believe we could eliminate single-use plastics by 2030,” she concluded.
