The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on 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 far-reaching consequences for the country’s manufacturing sector, employment, and economic growth.
In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, MAN expressed concerns over the proposed 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 broad range of plastic products.
The association acknowledged the need to address environmental pollution and promote sustainable waste management but argued that the proposed regulations are premature and lack sufficient empirical evidence to justify their implementation.
According to MAN Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the measures could significantly disrupt industrial production, undermine investments across the plastics value chain, threaten thousands of jobs, and increase costs for manufacturers and consumers.
MAN 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.
The roadmap, it said, outlined strategies for reducing plastic waste through improved collection systems, recycling infrastructure, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), public awareness campaigns, and circular economy initiatives.
The association questioned the rationale for introducing new restrictions before implementing the recommendations contained in the roadmap and assessing the effectiveness of existing measures aimed at addressing plastic pollution.
It further argued that there has been no publicly available evaluation of previous restrictions on single-use plastics in Nigeria, making it difficult to determine whether such measures have reduced environmental pollution, improved recycling rates, or influenced consumer behaviour.
Drawing from international experiences, MAN cited examples from Kenya, Bangladesh, South Africa, and India, where bans on thin plastic products reportedly produced mixed results due to weak enforcement and inadequate recycling infrastructure.
The association contrasted these experiences with countries such as Germany, South Korea, and the Netherlands, which it said achieved high recycling rates through robust EPR systems and waste management initiatives without disrupting industrial activities.
The group warned that while environmental gains from plastic bans could be temporary if enforcement weakens, the damage to domestic industries—including factory closures, job losses, and reduced investments—could be long-lasting.
MAN also raised concerns about the economic implications of the proposed regulations, noting that Nigeria’s plastics industry supports hundreds of manufacturing firms, small and medium-sized enterprises, and a wide network of sectors including petrochemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, logistics, retail trade, and recycling.
According to the association, enforcing an 80-micron threshold would require major adjustments to manufacturing equipment, production processes, and raw material usage, potentially rendering existing investments obsolete and increasing production costs.
It added that the higher costs would likely be passed on to consumers already burdened by inflation and declining purchasing power, while small businesses and informal sector operators that depend on affordable packaging materials could face additional financial pressures.
MAN further cautioned that the regulations could accelerate deindustrialisation by increasing reliance 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 potential impact on government revenue, noting that reduced industrial activity, lower investments, and possible factory closures could negatively affect tax collections, customs duties, and other fiscal revenues.
While reaffirming its support for environmental sustainability, MAN maintained that plastic pollution is fundamentally a waste management challenge rather than a production issue. It argued that stronger waste collection systems, recycling infrastructure, and enforcement of EPR regulations would be more effective in addressing the problem than blanket production restrictions.
Consequently, the association urged 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 preserving jobs, investments, and economic competitiveness.
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