TheCable

The Oyo government has announced a ban on the usage of styrofoam and other single-use plastics (SUPs) across the state.

According to Punch, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Oyo commissioner of health, announced the ban on Monday during the food safety stakeholders forum, which held at the conference room of the ministry, in Agodi, Ibadan. 

Ajetunmobi, who was represented by Akintunde Ayinde, the permanent secretary of the ministry, said the state government has inaugurated the food safety compliance enforcement task force to monitor compliance with the ban.

The task force includes members from the state food safety management committee, the Nigeria Police Force, the Association of Table Water Producers, the Association of Canteen Workers, among others, and has Ayinde as its leader.

“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure; hence the need for people to adhere strictly to food standards to save lives in the state,” Ajetunmobi said.

“The menace of food poisoning, indiscriminate use of chemical products for food production, processing, packaging, and other sharp practices being carried out by food business operators have become great public health concerns in the state.

“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility to regulate food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state, planned to double her efforts to monitor/inspect food business premises in the state.

“Consequently, the use of styrofoam for food services, storage, and other related usage in the state is also banned.”

On January 21, the Lagos state government announced a similar ban on styrofoam and SUPs.

Several stakeholders have since called for a nationwide ban of the products.