Lagos and NCF Mobilize for 2025 Walk to Curb Plastic Pollution

In the lead-up to the 2025 Walk for Nature event in Lagos, Nigeria, state officials and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) are calling for broad collaboration to address the country's growing plastic pollution crisis.

Nigeria generates an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with Lagos contributing around 870,000 tonnes. Discarded packaging frequently clogs local drains and waterways, exacerbating flood risks and harming marine life. Microplastics entering the food chain have also emerged as a major concern.

To tackle these challenges, Lagos authorities say they have intensified enforcement of the state's ban on single-use plastics, including Styrofoam food containers and other common disposables. While compliance remains uneven due to cost pressures and limited alternatives, officials maintain that inspections and sanctions are increasing as the policy takes hold.

Alongside the plastics crackdown, the state's waste agency, LAWMA, continues to expand its Blue Box recycling program to improve the quality of materials for processing. Speakers at the Walk for Nature event also urged manufacturers and retailers to strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, redesigning packaging formats, funding collection, and scaling take-back initiatives.

With global brands facing growing scrutiny over their packaging choices and post-consumer recovery efforts in Lagos, the city's plastic pollution response is set to have far-reaching implications for the packaging industry.