The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged 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 have serious consequences for the manufacturing sector, employment and economic growth.
In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, the association expressed concerns over the planned implementation of the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2026, which seek to prohibit the production and use of single-use plastic products below 80 microns in thickness, impose taxes on certain shopping bags and restrict a wide range of plastic products.
While acknowledging the need to tackle environmental pollution and promote sustainable waste management,
MAN argued that the proposed regulations are premature and lack sufficient empirical evidence to justify their implementation.
According to the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the measures could disrupt industrial production, undermine investments across the plastics value chain, threaten thousands of jobs and increase costs for manufacturers and consumers.
The association 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.
It stated that the roadmap provides strategies for reducing plastic waste through improved collection systems, recycling infrastructure, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), public awareness campaigns and circular economy initiatives.
MAN questioned the rationale behind introducing new restrictions before implementing the roadmap and evaluating the effectiveness of existing measures aimed at curbing plastic pollution.
The association further observed that there has been no publicly available assessment of previous restrictions on single-use plastics in Nigeria, making it difficult to determine whether such policies have succeeded in reducing environmental pollution, improving recycling rates or influencing consumer behaviour.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh, South Africa and India, MAN said plastic bans had produced mixed results due to weak enforcement and inadequate recycling infrastructure.
It contrasted those experiences with Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands, which, according to the association, achieved high recycling rates through strong EPR systems and effective waste management initiatives without disrupting industrial activities.
The group warned that although environmental gains from plastic bans could prove temporary if enforcement weakens, the impact on domestic industries—including factory closures, job losses and declining investments—could be long-lasting.
MAN also highlighted the broader economic implications of the proposed regulations, noting that Nigeria’s plastics industry supports hundreds of manufacturing firms, small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as sectors such as petrochemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, logistics, retail trade and recycling.
According to the association, enforcing the 80-micron threshold would require substantial adjustments to manufacturing equipment, production processes and raw material usage, potentially rendering existing investments obsolete and driving up production costs.
It added that the increased costs would likely be transferred to consumers already grappling with inflation and declining purchasing power, while small businesses and operators in the informal sector that rely on affordable packaging materials could face additional financial strain.
MAN further warned that the regulations could accelerate deindustrialisation by increasing dependence on imported alternatives and raw materials, contrary to the government’s objectives of industrialisation, import substitution, job creation and export diversification.
The association also expressed concern over the possible impact on government revenue, noting that reduced industrial activity, lower investments and potential factory closures could adversely affect tax receipts, customs duties and other fiscal revenues.
Reaffirming its support for environmental sustainability, MAN maintained that plastic pollution is essentially a waste management issue rather than a production problem. It argued that strengthening waste collection systems, expanding recycling infrastructure and enforcing EPR regulations would be more effective than blanket restrictions on production.
Consequently, the association called on NESREA and the Federal Government to suspend the proposed ban pending a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), conduct an independent evaluation of the policy’s environmental and economic implications, assess the effectiveness of previous restrictions, fully implement the 2024 Plastic Circularity Roadmap, strengthen EPR mechanisms and establish a broad-based stakeholder working group to develop a practical transition strategy.
MAN reiterated its commitment to collaborating with government agencies, recyclers, environmental groups, consumer organisations and other stakeholders to develop science-based and economically sustainable solutions to plastic waste management in Nigeria.
The association stressed that environmental sustainability and industrial growth should not be pursued as mutually exclusive goals, emphasizing the need for balanced policies that protect the environment while safeguarding jobs, investments and economic competitiveness.