Shoprite, Africa’s largest supermarket retailer, has begun enforcing the Lagos State Government’s ban on single-use plastic bags, which came into effect on January 1, 2025.

The ban follows a year-long moratorium and is intended to address the state’s increasing environmental problems caused by plastic waste, according to the government.

Shoprite outlets across Lagos, including the Festival Mall branch in Festac Town, a noticeable sign reminded shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.

“From 1 January 2025, single-use plastic bags will be banned by the Lagos State Government. Let’s reduce plastic waste and protect our environment,” Shoprite’s sign read, as seen by The Guardian.

Nigeria is one of the biggest plastic polluters in the world, producing over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with more than 70% of that waste ending up in landfills and the ocean, according to a recent study by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Single-use plastics (SUPs) are disposable plastic products that are typically used once before being discarded. These include Styrofoam plates and cups, straws, cutlery, and plastic bags (especially those less than 40 microns thick).

Single-use plastics have long been a major contributor to clogged drainage systems, littered streets, and environmental degradation in the metropolis.

Recall that the Federal Government had also banned single-use plastics in ministries, departments, and agencies of government last year.

“If you look at the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which was adopted in 2020, it envisages that by January 2025, some categories of plastics will be banned in Nigeria, and most of them are single-use: plastic spoons, straws, PET bottles, water sachets, and so on.

“What the Federal Government is doing is preparing the minds of Nigerians and leading by example,” the Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, said.

Salako said the ban aligns with the government’s commitment to tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution, which have become menacing challenges in the country.

The minister explained that plastic waste often clogs drains and contributes to flooding while also polluting the oceans and affecting human health and the environment. (The Guardian)