Stakeholders including sachet water dealers and consumers are confused, as the Lagos State government prepares for the total ban of single-use plastics.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Lagos that the ban would aggravate the economic hardship being experienced by many in the country.
Mrs Uchenna Martins, a sachet water dealer, told NAN that she depends on the proceeds from the pure water business to support her husband in fending for the family.
According to her, many traders and hawkers depend on her to source for cold sachet water to sell to motorists and the public, especially during heavy traffic.
“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.
“Many housewives depend on the sale of sachet water, especially in places with dense population for survival.
“I appeal to the Lagos State government to rethink their decision in the interest of the poor masses,” Martins said.
Also speaking, a resident of Ayobo, a suburb of Lagos, Mr Segun Alabi, said since the failure of the public water supply system, his family and many residents depend on sachet water.
Alabi wondered what his family would fall back on when the business of pure water dealers and producers are affected by the ban on single-use plastic.
He noted that a bottle of water, which sells for N200, is completely out of the reach of an average family in Lagos, to depend on.
Bayo Olamide, a student, noted that his parents depend on sachet water to refill his water container before going to school.
Also, Mr 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 dry throat without the relief that a cold sachet water gives,” Emubor said.
Speaking on the impending ban on single use plastic, the Managing Director, Waste Exchange, Mr Taiwo Adewale, said there is the need for proper awareness and orientation by government.
Adewale said government should make it clear to the people, the constituent of single use plastic.
He noted that Shoprite, for instance, has phased out nylon bags from all their outlets, while some restaurants and hotels have phased out plastic straw.
“Other single-use such as pure water nylon should be in phases, until alternative and cheaper ones are made available.
“So, various stakeholders must have a roundtable discussion on gradual phasing out and not immediate and total ban.
President of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos, Mr Friday Oku, noted that the association is in support of the total ban on single use plastics by the state government.
Oku said though sachet water nylon is recyclable, it does not add sufficient income to them.
“When you pick it, the volume appear so bulky, it does not add value because there is no weight.
“Our members refuse to pick them based on the reasons above,” Oku said.
He added that the association’s total support to the ban is predicated on the environmental nuisance posed by single use plastic.
Meanwhile, NAN observed that at Justright Superstores at Iyana ipaja axis, the management had boldly placed signages 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, a dealer of nylon bags and packaging materials at Iyana-Ipaja market, Mrs Bola Olatunji, told NAN that she was not aware of the imminent total ban on single use plastic by government.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, Dr Agharese Onaghise, declined comments on the issue.
Also, President of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria, Mrs Clementina Ativie, refused comments on the development when contacted by NAN.
NAN reports that 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 channel within the state.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this while inspecting flood-prone areas and ongoing projects and new ones at Lagos Island. (NAN)
