Lagos Residents React To Sealing Of Restaurants Over Plastic Ban Enforcement
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has continued its enforcement of the ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), sealing The Place Restaurant in Akowonjo and Cravings Eatery & Supermarket in Egbeda-Akowonjo for non-compliance.
According to the Ministry, the move aligns with the state’s ongoing effort to curb plastic pollution that blocks drainages, causes flooding, and threatens aquatic life. Officials stated that the ban on SUPs “is not a suggestion but a necessary step to protect our environment,” vowing that enforcement would continue until full compliance is achieved.
However, the news of the closures, shared on the Ministry’s official Facebook page, sparked intense reactions from Lagos residents — with hundreds weighing in on both sides of the debate. While some commenters applauded the government for standing firm, others questioned whether enforcement should also target manufacturers of single-use plastics rather than only the end users.
One of the most heated discussions emerged from a comment by Iwayeye Olabode Olatunji, who urged the government to address the problem from its source.
“Commissioner sir, as you’re punishing those businesses that refused to comply, can the team also work on those that produced these products? Because as long as the manufacturer of the single-use plastics continues to produce, we will continue to see it in circulation. Please let your team do more in tackling the issue from the root for a lasting solution. Well done,” he wrote.
His comment quickly drew mixed reactions, including sharp rebuttals from other Facebook users who argued that the state government was right to focus on local enforcement.
Akanji Rasheed fired back, saying:
“Iwayeye Olabode Olatunji, stop rationalizing evil if you want the country to get better. Lagos State is the only one that banned the plastic and you expect Lagos State Government to close down the company when other 35 states still use the plastic? The company is not even in Lagos, it is in Ogun State. Why do you buy what has been banned in Lagos State?”
Another user, Adepitan Persie Coker, also weighed in:
“Iwayeye Olabode Olatunji, not all states have it banned, so there is no way they can start from the manufacturers.”
The thread quickly became one of the most discussed sections under the post, reflecting the wider public divide on environmental enforcement in Lagos — between those calling for a holistic, supply-chain-based solution and those backing the state’s localised compliance-first strategy.
Beyond the heated exchanges, some commenters commended the Ministry for its determination to ensure a cleaner, safer environment. Others called for more public education and alternatives to single-use plastics, arguing that many businesses still lack access to affordable substitutes.
As the debate continues online, one thing remains clear — the Lagos plastic ban has sparked not just enforcement actions but also an important public conversation about shared responsibility, sustainable production, and the future of environmental governance in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
