By Desire Onuzurike
Last July 3, the world marked the annual International Plastic Bag Free Day, an occasion that encourages people to reduce their dependence on single-use plastic bags and embrace more environmentally friendly alternatives.
In the past two months, heavy rainfall has left roads submerged, homes flooded, and businesses damaged in many Nigerian communities. While climate change, poor urban planning, inadequate drainage infrastructure and weak waste management are among the factors contributing to the crisis, communities have also pointed to the growing volume of plastic bags, bottles and other plastic waste clogging drainage channels as a factor that worsens flooding.
For many residents, flooding is more than an environmental concern; it is a personal struggle. Families are forced to evacuate their homes, while traders and hawkers lose goods and livelihoods worth thousands of naira. In some communities, stagnant floodwater also creates conditions that can increase the risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, adding to existing public health challenges. Beyond these personal losses, governments also spend significant public resources clearing blocked drains, repairing damaged roads and responding to flood emergencies, while businesses suffer productivity losses that affect the wider economy.
When drainage channels are blocked by plastic waste, rainwater cannot flow freely. This can contribute to the flooding of roads and neighbourhoods, making them impassable and disrupting everyday life. The situation highlights the urgent need for better waste management, improved drainage systems and greater public awareness about responsible waste disposal.
Across Nigeria, many plastic bags are used only once before being discarded in open spaces, markets, gutters and waterways. Eventually, some of this waste finds its way into drainage systems, where it can obstruct the movement of stormwater and worsen flooding during heavy rainfall. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall, cities with poor waste management systems become even more vulnerable. Reducing plastic pollution is therefore not only an environmental priority but also an important climate adaptation strategy.
Despite efforts by environmental authorities and civil society organisations, plastic pollution remains a significant challenge. Addressing it will require stronger government action, effective waste collection and disposal systems, better enforcement of environmental regulations and sustained public education. However, responsibility should not rest solely on governments and citizens. Manufacturers and companies that produce and market plastic-packaged goods must also take greater responsibility for the waste generated by their products through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, which require producers to support the collection, recycling and proper disposal of plastic packaging.
Citizens, too, have an important role to play. Choosing reusable shopping bags, reducing unnecessary plastic consumption and disposing of waste responsibly are simple steps that can collectively make a difference. Yet many communities lack reliable waste collection services, public waste bins and accessible recycling facilities. Without these basic services, even well-intentioned citizens often have limited options for disposing of waste responsibly. Governments must therefore ensure that waste collection systems are accessible and effective, while businesses and manufacturers must take greater responsibility for the plastic packaging they introduce into the environment.
In January 2024, the Lagos State government was widely commended for banning the use and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics. Several other states have since followed suit, while the Federal Government has also taken steps towards implementing a similar ban nationwide. These policies demonstrate growing political commitment, but legislation alone cannot solve the problem. Weak enforcement, continued production of single-use plastics, limited availability of affordable alternatives, and inadequate waste management infrastructure continue to undermine their effectiveness.
Currently, no fewer than 60 million plastic sachet water bags are consumed and disposed of daily, with Lagos topping the list. The state is also estimated to generate about 870,000 tons of plastic waste annually, including discarded drink bottles, sachet water packs and plastic bags, out of an estimated 2.7 million tons generated across the country.
The theme of this year’s International Plastic Bag Free Day, ‘Breaking free from single-use plastics: towards a sustainable future ’, reminds us that reducing plastic pollution is not only about protecting the environment; it is also about protecting lives, livelihoods and public health.
Cleaner streets, healthier waterways and unclogged drainage systems can help communities become more resilient to flooding and other environmental hazards. But achieving this will require more than occasional clean-up exercises or public campaigns. It will require a shared commitment from governments, businesses, communities and individuals to reduce plastic waste, improve waste management and build cities that are safer and more resilient for everyone. Every plastic bag carelessly discarded today could become tomorrow’s blocked drain, flooded street, or displaced family. Tackling plastic pollution is therefore not simply about keeping our surroundings clean; it is about protecting lives, strengthening our economy and preparing our communities for a future where extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common.
Onuzurike, a third-year student at Trinity University, Lagos, is an intern at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
