The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday called for a carefully phased approach to the proposed ban on single-use plastics in Nigeria, warning that a sudden policy shift could disrupt businesses and threaten thousands of jobs.
Abbas gave the warning in Abuja while declaring open a public hearing organised by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Preparedness for the Single-Use Plastic Ban in Nigeria at the National Assembly Complex.
The Speaker, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Isiaka Ibrahim, acknowledged the urgent need to address Nigeria’s mounting plastic waste problem but stressed that environmental reforms must be implemented in a way that safeguards livelihoods.
According to him, plastics remain an integral part of Nigeria’s commercial ecosystem, supporting a wide network of businesses involved in manufacturing, packaging, distribution and waste recycling.
He cautioned that an abrupt ban without adequate planning could trigger unintended economic consequences.
“Our nation is grappling with a severe plastic waste menace that chokes our drainages, degrades our soil quality, threatens marine life in the Niger Delta and the Atlantic coastline, and ultimately infiltrates our food chain,” he said.
Abbas noted that the widespread presence of plastic waste in cities, waterways and refuse dumps underscores the scale of the environmental challenge facing the country.
He emphasised that while Nigeria must take decisive action to tackle plastic pollution, the transition away from single-use plastics must be gradual, inclusive and supported by clear policy direction to avoid destabilising the economy.
Earlier, the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Preparedness for the Single-Use Plastic Ban, Terseer Ugbor, said the panel had been mandated to develop a practical legislative framework that balances environmental protection with economic considerations.
Ugbor explained that the committee’s work is focused on designing a workable roadmap for Nigeria’s transition away from problematic plastic materials.
“We are not here to debate whether a transition away from problematic plastics should happen.
“The real question is how that transition can occur in an orderly, efficient and equitable manner that protects both our environment and our economy,” he said.
He added that the committee intends to develop a homegrown policy approach capable of moving Nigeria away from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” production model toward a circular economy that promotes reuse, recycling and sustainable innovation.
At the hearing, a coalition of civil society organisations, including the Community Action Against Plastic Waste and the Young Female Journalists Network, expressed strong support for the proposed ban on single-use plastics.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Errit Effanga urged the Federal Government to align Nigeria’s environmental policies with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
She noted that global plastic production has expanded dramatically over the past decades, posing increasing threats to ecosystems and public health.
Effanga said global plastic production has grown more than 200-fold since 1950, with over 11 million tonnes of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems every year.
She also warned that plastics contain thousands of chemical additives linked to serious health risks, including endocrine disruption, cancer and reproductive harm.
According to her, more than 130 countries have already adopted bans or restrictions on single-use plastics, adding that studies show effective policies can reduce plastic pollution by between 30 and 80 per cent within a few years.
However, representatives of manufacturers and businesses that depend heavily on plastic packaging cautioned against an immediate prohibition.
The Executive Director of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, Onaghise, said while the industry acknowledges the environmental challenges associated with plastic waste, a sudden ban could significantly disrupt businesses and investments.
She disclosed that companies within the alliance have already invested more than ₦1.3bn in plastic waste collection infrastructure, while the broader industry has committed over ₦3tn toward the development of recycling facilities.
Onaghise added that although alternative packaging materials such as glass, paper and aluminium exist, they also come with environmental and logistical drawbacks, including higher energy consumption during production, increased transportation costs and heavier resource demands.
She further noted that in the case of sachet water, popularly known as “pure water,” there is currently no widely applicable alternative to single-use plastic packaging.
Calls for the regulation or outright ban of single-use plastics have intensified in Nigeria in recent years, as environmental groups, researchers, and policymakers warn of the growing impact of plastic pollution on public health and ecosystems.
Plastic waste has become a major contributor to flooding in several Nigerian cities due to blocked drainage systems, while large quantities of plastic debris have also been found in rivers, coastal waters and agricultural land.
Several state governments, including Lagos State, have announced plans to restrict certain categories of single-use plastics as part of broader environmental reforms.
Globally, governments are increasingly adopting measures to reduce plastic consumption through bans, recycling targets, and the promotion of alternative materials, a trend that has intensified discussions in Nigeria on how to develop a national framework capable of addressing plastic pollution while protecting jobs and investments across the plastic value chain.
