The House of Representatives Tuesday banned the use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags in Nigeria and recommended paper bags.
The House stipulated that any retailer who provides the customer with the plastic product is guilty of an offence and must be sanctioned accordingly.
The lawmakers stated that any person who manufactures plastic bag for purpose of selling, and that anyone who imports the bag whether as a carryout bag or for sale should be penalised.
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The House resolved after consideration of the report by a committee of the whole on an Act to ban the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging.
Cited as Plastic Bags Prohibition Bill, 2018, the seeks to; “among other things prohibit the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging to address the harmful impact on oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, environment, wildlife and human beings, and to relieve pressure on landfills and waste management”.
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The bill stipulated that “any person found guilty of offences under clause 1 shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
“Any company or organization found guilty of the offence provided in clause 1 shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding Five Million naira”.
