Stakeholders warn plastic ban could cripple SMEs without recycling infrastructure

As Nigeria prepares to implement its ban on single-use plastics (SUPs), stakeholders across manufacturing and waste management sectors have expressed concerns that the move could disrupt small and medium enterprises already struggling under economic pressure.

The federal government, through the Ministry of Environment, has set July 1, 2025, as the enforcement date for the ban in ministries, departments, and agencies. But industry leaders warn that without recycling hubs, adequate alternatives, and transition support, the policy could do more harm than good.

Speaking on the issue, Mansur Ahmed, interim president of the Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), said that while environmental goals are important, the current pace and design of the policy risks undermining industrial resilience.

“The fight must not sacrifice Africa’s fragile manufacturing future,” he said, adding that the continent must invest in recycling and circular manufacturing industries rather than adopt outright bans.

Ahmed emphasized that small plastic manufacturers, which make up a significant portion of African industry, are not prepared for an abrupt transition. Many of them serve critical sectors such as food, health, and retail packaging.

PAMA proposed a phased ban supported by regional recycling hubs, SME-focused incentives, and extended producer responsibility schemes that would keep plastic waste within a regulated economic loop rather than eliminate it abruptly.

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The Calabar Chamber of Commerce president, David Etim, echoed similar concerns. “I don’t think there’s any structure in the country to support the migration from single-use plastics,” he said, calling for a 10- to 15-year gradual transition and closer collaboration between science, technology, and the private sector.

Etim warned that switching to alternatives like biodegradable paper could worsen deforestation and that machinery upgrades needed for such a shift would require huge investments that most Nigerian manufacturers cannot afford without government support.

Friday Oki, president of the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos, also called for a phased approach, recommending at least three years’ notice before full enforcement. He said failure to engage stakeholders and raise public awareness has made the planned ban feel sudden and punitive.

Several SUP dealers and manufacturers also criticized the proposed timeline, describing it as insensitive given the current economic challenges.

While stakeholders support efforts to reduce plastic pollution, they insist that the transition must be inclusive, gradual, and supported by enabling policies — or risk destabilizing the country’s fragile SME-driven manufacturing sector.