In 2024, Lagos State government announced plans to enforce a ban on single-use plastics starting January 1, 2025.

Major retailers, including ShopRite, Jendor, JustRite, Blenco, responded by urging customers to bring reusable bags to align its operation with the state’s environmental objectives.

However, discrepancies have arisen as many of them, rather than fully comply with the state government’s directive, are now offering nylon bags for sale, raising questions about these retailers’ commitment to sustainability.

Of note is that when the state government announced that it would start to enforce the ban on single use plastic as from January 1, many residents started bracing up for the new normal.

It was, therefore, no surprise that many of these major retailers, Shoprite, Jendor, JustRite, Blenco, displayed messages in their stores announcing that from January 1, customers should come to shop with their re-useable bags.

For instance at ShopRite in Festival Mall, Amuwo-Odofin Local Counci, there were at least three different banners with same central message but slightly different contents that were displayed. It was same in all the stores and outlets of these major retailers visited.

At the Shoprite outlet located at Festival Mall, part of its message driving the new directive said the company supports Lagos State government’s ban on single use plastic, maintaining that it will no longer provide single use plastics in its stores.

It listed the single use plastics that would be discontinued with to include plastic straws, nylon bags, plastic cutlery and Styrofoam packs.

It added: “We encourage you to bring a reuseable bag on your shopping trips or buy one of our eco-friendly bags for a token. Let’s reduce plastic waste and protect our environment.”

The Guardian observed that the company complied with the state government directive on the ban of single use plastic for about two to three weeks, during which it did not offer nylon bags to customers. However, after that initial compliance, Shoprite started offering nylon bags to customers at a fee of N150 per nylon bag.

Some customers perceive this practice as contradictory, questioning the retailer’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

They feel that selling nylon bags undermines the purpose of the displayed notices and may lead to confusion about the store’s policies.

But the experience is not different in all the retailers stores listed above.

After just days or weeks of complying with the directive, the different outlets started offering the same banned nylon for sale in their stores.

Commenting, a customer, Mike Ikenwa, said the action of the management of Shoprite show inconsistency, which raises concerns about compliance with environmental regulations and the effectiveness of waste reduction initiatives.

He also feels it undermines the state’s efforts to promote sustainable practices among retailers and consumers. He called on the government to ensure stricter enforcement of the ban through ensuring that all retailers adhere to the guidelines it set.

Also, commenting, Glory Adesokan said Shoprite selling to customers with displayed notices in its outlets is nothing but exploitation considering the nylon bags were offered free before now.

“It does not make sense. Shoppers have started bringing reusable bags to outlets before it started re-offering nylon bags to customers at a fee, which is more like exploiting the process. The BAGCO bag that was offered for sale initially when Shoprite started complying with government’s directive on ban on single use plastic was a better option as that can be re-used.

“It is surprising that when customers protest that they are not supposed to pay for the nylon bags, the cashiers ironically usually point the customers to the notice banning single use plastic that is being offered for sale to them.”

Another customer, John Solomon, noted that it is not only Shoprite selling nylon to customers, wondering why the state government has not fined the retailers selling the nylon to shoppers.

“It is government that has allowed them because if the same government that bans did not deem it fit to call them to order, I wonder how one will describe such government. This is poor governance in display and government hugely failing in its responsibility. The Commissioner is quick to go on social media, especially on X platform, to announce that a building is being demolished but to call to order those extorting residents through state government policy, he is looking away.”

When the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, was contacted on the observation and residents complaint, he claimed the idea to charge for a recyclable polythene bags is to discourage people from discarding the bags and bringing them to the store every time they are coming for shopping. He maintained that it is a global practice sir.

When he was told what was being offered for sale to shoppers was not recyclable, he said: “What they are offering, though I have not seen it, should be the recyclable bags.”

He, thereafter, promised to work immediately on the information provided. “We shall do the needful immediately,” Wahab said.

When The Guardian returned to one of the Shoprite outlets at Festival Mall on Friday morning, cashiers were still offering nylon bags to shoppers at a fee.