The Lagos State Government has discovered a warehouse in Ikeja unlawfully stockpiling vast amounts of banned Styrofoam boxes, in a major first towards reducing environmental contamination.
This revelation comes from a tip-off from a watchful whistleblower, which causes officials to search No. 6 Ogusefunmi Street, off Nurudeen Street, Anifowoshe.
Acting under the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps quickly seized the unlawful goods.
Conducted on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the raid supports the state’s strong opposition against the usage of non-biodegradable materials.
Confirming the operation in a post via X, Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, hailed the efforts of the whistleblower and the quick reaction of the authorities.
He underlined once more that the state is still dedicated to implementing its January 2024 ban on single-use plastics including Styrofoam. Commonly used in throwaway plates for restaurants, styrofoam presents a major environmental hazard because it is not biodegradable.
Introduced by the Lagos State Government to combat this threat, the prohibition has been enforced constantly by violators.
“Following a tip-off by a whistleblower, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources discovered another warehouse at No 6 Ogusefunmi Street off Nurudeen Street, Anifowoshe, Ikeja.
“The building is being used for storing the banned styrofoam packs. The operatives of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps have confiscated the packs.” said Wahab, pledging ongoing action against those compromising the state’s environmental policies.
With this most recent bust, the state wants to make clear that non-compliance will not be accepted as part of its more general campaign to lower plastic pollution.
