MAN Asks FG to Suspend Proposed Single-Use Plastics Ban

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has asked the Federal Government and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency to suspend the proposed ban on some single-use plastics pending a full regulatory impact assessment.

MAN’s position was contained in a statement by its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, following concerns over NESREA’s proposed National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2026.

The proposed rules would prohibit the production and use of single-use plastic products below 80 microns. They would also introduce levies on some shopping bags and restrict several categories of plastic products listed in the draft regulation.

MAN warned that the move could disrupt industrial production, weaken investments in the plastics value chain and threaten jobs in packaging, food processing, pharmaceuticals, retail, agriculture, logistics and recycling.

Ajayi-Kadir argued that the issue is not plastic material alone, but weak waste-management infrastructure and poor enforcement. He said government should first implement and evaluate the Plastic Circularity Roadmap developed in 2024 before introducing a new prohibition regime.

The association said the roadmap already covers collection systems, recycling infrastructure, extended producer responsibility, public awareness and investment in circular-economy systems.

MAN also cited other countries where outright bans produced limited gains or created economic costs, while pointing to recycling and producer-responsibility models in countries such as Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands.

The association said it supports environmental protection, but wants government to prioritise recycling systems, producer responsibility and waste collection before imposing measures that could raise costs for factories and households.

Sources: Arise News, The Guardian Nigeria, Leadership, Peoples Gazette