The Lagos State Government has pledged to intensify enforcement of its ban on single-use plastics as part of a broader strategy to achieve a zero plastic waste environment.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the commitment during the 19th edition of the Walk for Nature, held in Lagos and jointly organized by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
This year’s event, themed “Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution,” attracted students, youths, environmentalists, and government officials, with a colourful procession from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) through major streets of Yaba.
Represented by his Special Adviser on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the government would strictly enforce existing environmental laws banning single-use plastics.
“This law banning single-use plastics has always been there. What we are doing now is stepping up enforcement—and there is no going back,” he stated.The governor noted that enforcement will be phased and progressively tightened, while residents and businesses are encouraged to adopt reusable materials and eco-friendly habits.
“Achieving zero plastic in the environment is our destination. We are taking it step by step, starting with strict enforcement. Plastic pollution is everyone’s problem—we must face it head-on,” he said.
Justice Bukunola Adebiyi, Chairman of the NCF National Executive Council, urged Nigerians to take urgent action to curb plastic waste, describing it as a major threat to health and the environment.
She commended Lagos for banning plastics below 40 microns, calling it “a bold and progressive step that positions the state as a pacesetter in environmental governance.”
Justice Adebiyi disclosed that Lagos generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastics making up around 15 percent, an amount she described as “unsustainable and alarming.”
“Plastics that end up in the ocean don’t disappear—they break down into microplastics eaten by fish, which humans later consume,” she warned.
The event also highlighted youth involvement in environmental protection, with over 60 percent of participants drawn from tertiary institutions and youth groups.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General of NCF, said the annual Walk for Nature continues to inspire public action and awareness toward sustainable living.
“Beating plastic pollution is a collective duty. If we all act responsibly, we can prevent plastics from ending up where they don’t belong—especially in our oceans,” Onoja said.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh