Controversy, confusion, and lamentation have trailed the reactions expressed by stakeholders, including sachet water dealers and consumers, as the Lagos State government prepares for the total ban on single-use plastics.
They told journalists in separate interviews on Sunday in Lagos that the ban would aggravate the already economic hardship being experienced by many in the country.
Uchenna Martins, a sachet water dealer, told journalists that she depends on the proceeds from the pure water business to support her husband in fending for the family.
“The ban on single-use plastics, including sachet water, will increase poverty in the land as many of us depend on the sale to feed our families,” Ms Martins said.
Also speaking, Segun Alabi, a resident of Ayobo, a suburb of Lagos, said that since the failure of the public water supply system in Lagos, his family and many Lagos residents have depended on sachet water.
Mr Alabi wondered what his family would fall back on when pure water dealers and producers are affected by the ban on single-use plastic.
Bayo Olamide, a student, said his parents depend on sachet water to refill his water container before going to school.
Also, Oghenetega Emubor said sachet water had been a huge source of relief to commuters in Lagos, especially when stuck in traffic.
“It is unimaginable to be stuck in Lagos traffic and feeling thirsty with a dry throat without the relief that a cold sachet of water gives,” Mr Emubor said.
Speaking on the impending ban on single-use plastic, Taiwo Adewale, the managing director, Waste Exchange, said there was the need for proper awareness and orientation by the government.
Mr Adewale said the government should make it clear to the people the constituent of single-use plastic.
“They need to know which is single used, which is banned. Although some are phased out already, like styrofoam,” said Mr Adewale.
He noted that Shoprite, for instance, has phased out nylon bags from all their outlets, while some restaurants and hotels have phased out plastic straws.
Friday Oku, the president of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos, said the association supported the total ban on single-use plastics by the state government.
Mr Oku said that though sachet water nylon was recyclable, it did not add sufficient income to them.
He added that the association’s total support for the ban was predicated on the environmental nuisance posed by single-use plastic.
Meanwhile, it was observed that at Justrite Superstores on the Iyana Ipaja axis, the management had boldly placed signage all over the stores in support of the imminent ban on single-use plastic.
They have jingles played in the shop appealing to their customers to comply and come with reusable bags for shopping.
However, Bola Olatunji, a dealer of nylon bags and packaging materials at the Iyana-Ipaja market, told journalists that she was unaware of the imminent total ban on single-use plastic.
Meanwhile, Agharese Onaghise, the executive secretary of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, declined comments.
Also, Clementina Ativie, the president of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria, refused comments on the development when contacted by journalists.
The Lagos State government recently restated its commitment to the total ban on single-use plastic before the end of January during an inspection of drainage channels within the state.
The Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said this while inspecting flood-prone areas and ongoing projects, as well as new ones on Lagos Island.
(NAN)
