Business
Lagos Declares Manufacturing, Selling, Distributing single-use Plastics a Crime
Wahab called on the public, particularly business owners, food vendors, and market traders, to cooperate with the government to ensure a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Lagos.
• Tokunbo Wahab
The Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of full enforcement of the ban on the use and distribution of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) across the state, effective July 1, 2025.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, made the announcement on Tuesday during a media briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja.
He emphasized that offenders will be prosecuted in line with the State’s Environmental Laws.
Wahab stated that the decision to enforce the ban follows an 18-month transition period granted to residents, manufacturers, and vendors to adjust and adopt more sustainable alternatives.
“The decision to ban Single-Use Plastics in Lagos was not arbitrary. It was an existential one, influenced by multiple factors,” he said.
Wahab explained that Lagos, a coastal city situated below sea level with the smallest land mass in the country—just 3,575 square kilometers—houses about 10 percent of Nigeria’s population.
“That alone is a recipe for environmental crisis. We did not just wake up whimsically and choose to ban styrofoam food packs in 2024.
We had always stated that within the next 12 months, all single-use plastics would follow.
Now, nearly 18 months later, we believe ample time has been given for all to transition. Enforcement starts July 1, and heavens will not fall.
Banned Items and Reasons
Styrofoam Packs: Banned due to their non-biodegradable nature and harmful environmental impact.
Plastic Straws: Prohibited to reduce plastic waste and promote eco-friendly alternatives.
Disposable Plastic Cups and Cutleries: Banned to curb single-use plastic pollution.
Lightweight Nylon Bags: Outlawed because they are not reusable or biodegradable, contributing significantly to environmental degradation.
Wahab called on the public, particularly business owners, food vendors, and market traders, to cooperate with the government to ensure a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Lagos.
The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.
The Presidency says a man identified as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly created and operated fake government agencies, forged appointment letters, and falsely claimed to have been appointed by Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the statement:
The Office of the Chief of Staff discovered the alleged scheme after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) that an unauthorized body was operating in a way that conflicted with its functions.
The Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 to investigate alleged forged appointment letters.
The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.
Investigators allege Adeyemi operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, held meetings with diplomats, and sought diplomatic support to obtain U.S. visas for members of the alleged organization.
Police reportedly recovered forged documents and other exhibits during searches of his office and residence.
The investigation allegedly found that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including several in the names of fictitious organizations, and used forged documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account.
The Presidency says no government funds were paid into that account.
Police charged Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court on multiple counts, including forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27.
The Presidency also denied claims that Gbajabiamila appointed Adeyemi, stating that appointments to federal offices are issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Current status
The Presidency maintains that:
the agencies in question are fictitious,
the appointment letter was forged,
Adeyemi is an impostor,
and the allegations against him should be resolved by the court.
As the case is pending before the court, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
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Business
CBN revokes 46 MFBs’ licences
According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of: insufficient assets to meet liabilities; closure of operations without the CBN approval; and inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 Microfinance Banks (MFBs).
CBN’s Ag. Director of Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali disclosed that the revocation becomes effective today.
She emphasised that the revocation was in accordance with its powers under Sections 12 and 13 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020.
“The revocation was approved by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. OlayemiCardoso, following the banks’ failure to meet the regulatory requirements for continued operation as licensed financial institutions,” she said.
According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of: insufficient assets to meet liabilities; closure of operations without the CBN approval; and inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation.
Others were: failure to commence operations within 12 months of licence approval, and failure to maintain minimum capital funds unimpaired by losses.
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