Lagos Defends Sale of Reusable Packing Bags in Malls Amid Plastic Ban

Lagos, Nigeria, The Lagos State Government has clarified its position on the sale of packing bags in shopping malls, following public complaints about the practice after the recent ban on single-use plastics.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olawale Rotimi-Akodu, stated that selling reusable packing bags aligns with global environmental practices seen in Europe, America, and Asia.

Customers are not forced to buy the bags—they can bring their own reusable carriers.

The policy discourages waste by promoting reuse of purchased bags.

Lagos aims to match global environmental practices in its sustainability drive.

Meanwhile, officials from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade confiscated banned single-use plastics in Lagos Island markets on Thursday. The state began full enforcement of the prohibition on July 1, 2025, targeting:
✔ Styrofoam food packs
✔ Plastic straws & cutlery
✔ Lightweight nylon bags (below 40 microns)
✔ Disposable cups

Commissioner for Environment Tokunbo Wahab warned that businesses caught storing, selling, or distributing banned plastics risk sealing of premises and penalties.