MAN commends Ogun state government pragmatic approach to managing plastic waste

• Advocates for progressive waste management that leads to wealth, job creation and not needless impoverishment

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the advocacy voice of manufacturers in Nigeria has commended the Ogun State Government on its proactive and sustainable approach to managing plastic waste, especially single use plastics in the state.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Association and signed by its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni on Thursday 3rd July, 2025.

Ajayi-Kadir expressed the association’s appreciation of the government’s initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste, promoting recycling, and ensuring a cleaner environment.

DG MAN particularly noted the resolve of the Ministry to partner with manufacturers and other operators in the plastic value chain to advance its waste to wealth initiative.

These efforts, he stated align with MAN’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices.

He recalled that the Ogun State Government’s approach was presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya recently in Abeokuta during this year’s commemoration of World Environment Day, themed: Beating Plastics.

The statement read: “In his remarks, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment highlighted “plastics for cash” and “blue box” initiatives as subsets of their sustainable approach to manage waste and convert same to wealth in the state. While the Plastics for Cash program enables residents to exchange sorted plastic waste for monetary value or goods, creating income opportunities for youth, women, and informal waste collectors; the Blue Box initiative promotes structured house-to-house waste separation and collection, driven by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority. To strengthen these initiatives, Ogun State has constituted a Plastic Management Committee made up of regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and academic institutions.

“This Committee is responsible for promoting the implementation of EPR guidelines as defined by the National framework to support plastic buy-back programmes and job creation along the recycling value chain.”

Ajayi-Kadir argued that this is coming against the backdrop of recent developments in Lagos State with the disingenuous ban of production and use of single use plastics, stressing that rather than sudden and outright ban, progressive strategies that balance environmental sustainability with economic stability should be adopted.

DG MAN stated further that “In Egypt, collaborative efforts between the government and social enterprises like Banlastic focus on education, community clean-ups, and recycling plastic waste.

“Ghana has embraced plastic-to-construction innovation, with companies like Nelplast transforming waste into affordable building materials. Similarly, the United States is pursuing a national recycling plan and innovation challenge to improve plastic recovery, design, and energy efficiency.

“These models focus on circularity and not prohibition. As an advocacy organisation, MAN has cautioned against the ban and called for a more sustainable and beneficial approach to manage waste, similar to the one Ogun State has adopted.

“To this end, we urge all stakeholders in the management of waste and the protection of the environment to leverage the commendable initiative of the Ministry of Environment in Ogun State.”

Ajayi-Kadir reiterates that Lagos State should redirect its focus towards building an inclusive, data-backed, and economically viable waste management system rather than imposing a blanket ban that risks widespread job losses, especially among SMEs, informal waste workers, and women-led businesses.

According to him, just as the State already has several commendable frameworks and pilot programmes such as the smart bins initiative, and the Blue box, it should revive and fully implement them and contribute meaningfully to addressing plastic waste.

He emphasized that sustainable solutions must be rooted in stakeholder engagement, scalable alternatives, and enabling infrastructure, while warning that the approach should not punish productivity but guide it towards circularity.

Ajayi-Kadir affirmed that MAN remains committed to supporting collaborative, inclusive environmental policies that protect both people and the planet, noting that the Association believes that effective waste management is crucial for public health, environmental protection, and economic development.

The Association, he stated looks forward to continued collaboration with the Ogun State Government to promote sustainable practices and address environmental challenges.

He maintained that the manufacturers are convinced that the plastic pollution crisis is primarily a result of poor waste management infrastructure and enforcement and not the material itself.

“We should aspire to achieve progressive waste management that leads to wealth and job creation, and not adopt simplistic waste management measures that drag industrialization and lead to needless impoverishment,” DG MAN emphasized.