Lagos Unveils Plan to Phase Out Sachet Water from Circulation

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to ban single-use plastics, including sachet water, starting from January 2025.

Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, confirmed the decision during a stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation of the ban on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics for packaging in Lagos.

Wahab explained that the upcoming ban is part of the government’s strategy to introduce policy guidelines aimed at managing plastic waste sustainably and ensuring a healthier environment.

According to Naija News, the state had already banned Styrofoam use in government institutions and across Lagos in January 2024, in response to the growing issue of plastic waste and its harmful effects on the environment.

Industry stakeholders, however, have asked the government to implement the ban gradually rather than enforcing it immediately, to ensure effective compliance and account for the current economic challenges.

Mosaku Ololade, the Lagos chairperson of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), emphasized that the association has been in dialogue with the government and preparing its members for the upcoming ban.

She added that the association, which represents over 2,000 members and 10,000 workers in Lagos, is ready to cooperate with the government but hopes for a phased implementation to allow time for members to fully comply with the new regulations.