MAN Urges Rethink of July 2025 Ban, Citing Lack of Data and Stakeholder Engagement
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has issued a strong appeal to the Lagos State Government to reconsider its planned ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), warning of sweeping economic, operational, and social consequences. The ban, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, is part of the state’s broader strategy to address environmental pollution.
In a statement released yesterday, MAN Director General Segun Ajayi-Kadir criticized the initiative, arguing that the policy lacks credible data and fails to engage affected stakeholders across the value chain — from manufacturers to traders, recyclers, and consumers.
“It’s Not a Plastic Problem, It’s a Waste Problem”
Ajayi-Kadir emphasized that the root issue is not plastic use itself, but rather the failure of effective waste management systems.
“It is the failure of plastic waste management that leads to pollution, not the material itself,” he stated.
He warned that without viable, scalable alternatives or infrastructure to support the transition, the policy would merely displace the problem — potentially worsening unemployment and poverty in the process.
Study Highlights Fears of Job Cuts and Economic Displacement
Citing findings from a MAN-commissioned study, Ajayi-Kadir revealed that 100% of manufacturers surveyed expressed concern about workforce reductions if the ban is enforced. The study, he said, uncovered wide-ranging negative implications across the plastic value chain.
Among the key findings:
- 89% of plastic sector operators rely on SUPs as their primary source of income, with no alternate livelihood.
- Over 75% of end users — including small and medium-sized businesses — depend on plastic packaging with no affordable or practical substitutes.
- 93% of dealers, many of them women, reported they had received no information or social support from the government to help cushion the impact.
- There is no social protection plan in place for workers likely to be displaced by the policy.
Ajayi-Kadir also noted that similar bans are more common in poorer countries, where alternatives and infrastructure are often lacking, compared to wealthier nations that invest in circular solutions.
A Call for a Circular Economy, Not a Ban
Rather than banning plastics outright, MAN is advocating for a circular economy approach, emphasizing recycling, innovation, and proper waste management as more sustainable paths forward.
“Nigeria should not be destroying its petrochemical industry with bans on plastics but should instead close the loop by ensuring that all plastics are recycled,” the DG stated.
Next Steps and the Need for Dialogue
Ajayi-Kadir urged Lagos State authorities to initiate comprehensive stakeholder dialogue involving manufacturers, workers, recyclers, and community representatives before moving forward. He stressed the importance of social protections, transition planning, and realistic alternatives before implementing any far-reaching policy.
With the proposed ban less than a year away, pressure is mounting for the Lagos government to balance environmental concerns with economic realities — or risk triggering widespread disruption in one of Nigeria’s most critical industrial sectors.