In Lagos, one of the world’s most plastics-polluted cities, shop manager Olarewanju Ogunbona uses Styrofoam and plastic packs at least five times a day, a common practice in the megacity.
Lagos, with over 20 million residents, generated 870,000 tons of the world’s 57 million tons of plastic waste in 2024. Last month, authorities banned single-use plastics like cutlery, plates, and straws, effective July 1. However, weak enforcement and a lack of alternatives have hindered the ban's impact, with many businesses still using Styrofoam and plastic.
Lagos produces at least 13,000 tons of waste daily, a fifth of which is plastic, much of it ending up in waterways and causing pollution and flooding. While the government promotes the ban as a major step, activists argue that without proper enforcement and better waste management, its effectiveness remains limited.