MAN Warns NESREA Plastic Ban Could Threaten Jobs, Investments

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the federal government to suspend the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency’s (NESREA) proposed ban on single-use plastics below 80 microns, warning that the policy could threaten jobs, investments, and stability within the manufacturing sector.

The proposed regulation seeks to prohibit the production and use of single-use plastic products below 80 microns, impose taxes on shopping bags with thickness between 30 and 50 microns, and restrict several plastic products listed under the Eleventh Schedule.

In a statement, MAN Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the measures, if implemented in their current form, could disrupt industrial production and negatively affect the plastics value chain, with wide-ranging implications for employment.

He noted that Nigeria’s plastics manufacturing industry is one of the country’s largest light manufacturing sectors, adding that abrupt policy changes could undermine existing investments and increase production costs for manufacturers.

According to him, the proposed 80-micron threshold would require significant adjustments in production processes and cost structures, potentially rendering some current investments less viable while raising the cost of manufacturing.

Ajayi-Kadir also warned that the policy could inadvertently increase reliance on imported alternatives, thereby weakening local industry growth and reducing the competitiveness of domestic producers.

While acknowledging the need to address plastic pollution and improve environmental sustainability, MAN called for a more gradual and evidence-based approach to regulation.

He referenced the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Plastic Circularity Roadmap developed with the Federal Ministry of Environment in 2025, noting that it contains key strategies such as improved waste collection systems, expanded recycling infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns.

Ajayi-Kadir stressed that several recommendations in the roadmap are yet to be fully implemented, arguing that existing frameworks should be evaluated before introducing new restrictions.

He further called for empirical assessment of previous plastic restrictions, noting that there is currently insufficient evidence on their impact on pollution levels, waste collection efficiency, or consumer behavior in Nigeria.

Citing international examples, he warned that poorly implemented bans without adequate recycling systems can lead to unintended consequences.

He pointed to Kenya’s 2017 plastic bag ban, which he said resulted in factory closures and job losses, as well as continued circulation of banned products through illegal channels. In contrast, he noted that countries such as Germany, South Korea, and the Netherlands have achieved better results through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems rather than outright bans.

Ajayi-Kadir called for stronger stakeholder engagement and a balanced regulatory approach that aligns environmental objectives with economic realities, stressing the need to support both sustainability and industrial growth.