The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for a reevaluation of the ban on certain single-use plastics (SUPs) that is set to begin on July 1, 2025.
The association believes that, rather than just banning these items, it would be more helpful to focus on improving the way plastic waste is collected and managed.
The director-general of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, highlighted the importance of looking at data and understanding the impact of such a ban on people’s lives and the economy.
He acknowledged the good intentions behind wanting to reduce plastic waste but warned that banning may not address the underlying issues.
Ajayi-Kadir pointed out that, improving recycling systems could have significant economic and environmental benefits, saying, ‘for example, the global plastic recycling industry was worth $55.71 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $114.18 billion by 2032.’
However, he noted that Nigeria currently recycles less than 15 per cent of its plastic packaging, while countries like the UK and Germany recycle over 52 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively. He explained that the existing capacity of most local recycling facilities is underutilised due to insufficient feedstock.
Ajayi-Kadir added that, “the federal government’s development of the National Plastic Action Roadmap for Nigeria exemplifies a proactive step toward achieving plastic circularity. This roadmap was developed through a participatory process, prioritising stakeholder engagement, and it reflects the insights and challenges faced by various parties, including the manufacturing sector.”
He also explained that the decision-making process that led to the SUP ban lacked open communication with the public and industry experts, saying, “this could lead to oversimplifying a complicated issue, making it harder to find effective solutions that consider social, economic, and environmental factors.”
Ajayi-Kadir added that improving the waste collection systems and engaging communities is crucial to effectively tackle the problem of plastic waste. He pointed out that instead of merely prohibiting certain plastics, the focus should be on enhancing waste management practices to create a more sustainable future.
MAN re-emphasised that a ban on plastic is a move in the wrong direction and should be discontinued.
MAN reiterated its commitment to work collaboratively with the public sector to create policies that allow manufacturing to thrive, saying, “we support the environmental intent of plastic waste management, we however believe this can only be achieved through policies that are inclusive, evidence-based, and sustainably implemented.”
