The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to suspend the proposed ban on single-use plastics below 80 microns, warning that the policy could trigger widespread economic disruptions, job losses, and increased production costs across the country.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement made available to BusinessPointer online and signed by Director General,Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni.
MAN expressed concern over the proposed implementation of the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2026, which seeks to prohibit the production and use of single-use plastic products below 80 microns in thickness and impose taxes on certain categories of shopping bags.
The association argued that the measures could significantly affect industrial production, investments in the plastics value chain, and the livelihoods of thousands of Nigerians.
While acknowledging the need to address environmental pollution and promote sustainable waste management, MAN maintained that the proposed regulations were premature and lacked sufficient empirical justification.
The association warned that the move could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s economy, industrial growth, employment, and consumer welfare.
MAN noted that the Federal Government had already developed a Plastic Circularity Roadmap in 2024 through the National Plastic Action Partnership (NNPAP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
According to MAN, the roadmap provides a comprehensive framework for reducing plastic waste through improved collection systems, recycling infrastructure, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), circular economy initiatives, and public awareness campaigns.
However, it observed that many of the roadmap’s recommendations have yet to be fully implemented.
The association questioned the rationale behind introducing a new prohibition regime without first assessing the effectiveness of existing measures and implementing the agreed roadmap designed to tackle plastic pollution sustainably.
It further stated that there is no publicly available assessment demonstrating the impact of previous restrictions on plastic products in reducing pollution, improving recycling rates, or changing consumer behaviour.
Drawing from international experiences, MAN argued that bans on thin plastic products have often failed to deliver long-term environmental benefits in countries lacking adequate recycling infrastructure. It cited examples from Kenya, Bangladesh, South Africa, and India, where enforcement challenges and the return of banned products undermined expected outcomes.
In contrast, countries such as Germany, South Korea, and the Netherlands achieved high recycling rates through robust EPR systems and investments in waste management infrastructure rather than outright bans.
The association warned that the proposed 80-micron threshold would require substantial modifications to manufacturing processes, machinery, and raw material usage, potentially rendering existing investments obsolete and increasing production costs.
It added that such costs would ultimately be transferred to consumers, many of whom are already struggling with inflation and declining purchasing power.
MAN also expressed concern that the regulation could accelerate deindustrialisation by increasing reliance on imported alternatives and raw materials, thereby weakening local manufacturing capacity, reducing government revenue, and threatening employment across the plastics value chain.
The association emphasized that plastic pollution is fundamentally a waste management challenge and should be addressed through improved collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal systems rather than blanket production restrictions.
It argued that sustainable environmental outcomes would be better achieved through stronger waste management infrastructure, expanded recycling capacity, effective enforcement of EPR regulations, and greater public awareness.
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Consequently, MAN urged the government to suspend the implementation of the proposed ban pending a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), conduct an independent evaluation of the policy’s environmental and socio-economic implications, assess the effectiveness of previous restrictions, fully implement the 2024 Plastic Circularity Roadmap, and strengthen investments in recycling and collection infrastructure.
It also called for the establishment of a broad-based stakeholder working group to develop a practical and evidence-based transition strategy.
The Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaborating with government and stakeholders to advance practical, science-based, and economically sustainable solutions to plastic waste management in Nigeria.
BusinessPointer
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