Lagos State Government has disclosed plans to reinstate its compulsory monthly environmental sanitation exercise, scheduled to hold on the last Saturday of every month, beginning from March 2025.
The government also expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the Lagos Island regeneration and deflooding projects, while urging residents to take personal responsibility for cleanliness rather than waiting for official enforcement or movement restrictions.
The announcement was made by Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, during an inspection tour of ongoing regeneration works and identified environmental infractions in Lagos Island.
He was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu.
Wahab explained that the sanitation exercise, which traditionally held between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month, was suspended in November 2016 due to difficulties associated with enforcing movement restrictions in a densely populated megacity.
However, he noted that worsening conditions such as indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage channels and growing refuse heaps had made its return unavoidable.
According to him, logistical challenges delayed an earlier restart, but consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to ensure a smooth reintroduction.
“We were prepared to begin earlier, but logistical issues arose. We are working towards a date acceptable to all stakeholders, and I am confident the exercise will commence in March, if not sooner,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that Lagos’ environmental challenges stem more from poor civic discipline than from waste management capacity. He warned that markets located along major traffic corridors, despite having access to waste bins, remain major contributors to illegal dumping. He added that the government would begin to take tougher enforcement actions in critical areas.
Commenting on the Lagos Island regeneration initiative, Wahab assured residents that drainage upgrades and public space improvements were progressing steadily. He noted that several flood-prone areas had recorded noticeable improvements, easing movement and reducing environmental hazards.
During the inspection, officials also visited the Oja-Oba underbridge, which has been earmarked for redevelopment through a proposed public-private partnership and corporate social responsibility framework.
Wahab explained that clearing activities were ongoing while discussions continued with potential partners, adding that the project would be executed in phases to ensure sustainability and value addition.
He also urged residents to adopt a consistent culture of environmental cleanliness, stressing that sanitation should not be seen as a government-driven exercise alone.
“Setting aside a few hours weekly to clean our surroundings costs nothing, and that is the essence of reviving this initiative,” he said.
Wahab revealed that the decision to restore the monthly sanitation exercise followed extensive deliberations by the Lagos State Executive Council, alongside legal guidance from the Ministry of Justice.
He clarified that previous legal disputes were centred on movement restrictions rather than the sanitation exercise itself, adding that the government had now addressed those concerns.
He emphasised that environmental sanitation is a global best practice and that Lagos must build a lasting culture of cleanliness to support public health and sustainable urban living.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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