Youth-led NGOs express support for Lagos State’s ban on styrofoam, single-use plastics

U-recycle Initiative Africa, Plogging Nigeria, Green With Grin, and other environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social enterprises in Lagos have expressed their “full support” for the recent ban by the Lagos State Government on the use of styrofoam food packs in the state.

The groups made this known in a statement signed by Timilehin Abioye, Director of Communications, U-recycle Initiative Africa.

According to the statement, “As youth-led organisations dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability, we have conducted climate education outreaches in rural communities, organised weekly cleanups across universities, and developed numerous innovative solutions to address the plastic pollution crisis across Lagos

“Recognising the urgency of environmental issues in the state, we acknowledge that grassroots solutions alone cannot effectively combat the plastic pollution crisis without the support of robust policies and systems. Therefore, we commend the Lagos State Government for taking decisive action in banning styrofoam packs, a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for Lagos and Nigeria.”

The groups are: U-recycle Initiative Africa, Plogging Nigeria, Aquaworld Community Development Initiative, Dhoney Adire and Crafts Nigeria, GreenWithGrin, Eco.Biz, Cleaner And Healthier Nature Initiative and The Green Club Unilag.

Others are Zero Plastic Straw Community, LEARNBLUE, EcoDiversified International, Dawn Project Network, RecyclubNG, Tiwa Talks Green LTD/GTE and SustyVibes.

“The use of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in Lagos state and beyond is a ticking time bomb. From contributing to climate change to causing health issues, the negative impacts [of styrofoam] are becoming increasingly apparent. We fully support the Lagos state government’s decisive action and commend their decision,” said Tiwalade Aderemi of Tiwa Talks Green LTD/GTE.

“The plastic menace is a real issue in Lagos, and we’re very confident that this is a step in the right direction for the people of Lagos,” said Hope Lekwa of SustyVibes.

Styrofoam, a widely used packaging material popularly known as “takeaway” within the state, has had severe environmental consequences. Its non-biodegradable nature contributes to pollution and poses a threat to human health.

Single-use plastics, including styrofoam packs, also have significant impact on marine ecosystems.