Lagos clarifies sanitation modalities, warns defaulters ahead of April 25

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, has clarified the modalities for the reinstated monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab emphasized that the exercise, scheduled for the last Saturday of each month between 6:30 am and 8:30 am, aims to foster a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents.

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The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am. During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.

Strict enforcement measures will be in place, with movement restrictions during the sanitation window to facilitate thorough cleaning of homes, immediate surroundings, and drainage systems. This initiative, which was suspended in November 2016, is now back with a renewed focus on compliance and community participation. Enforcement teams will conduct physical inspections, and defaulters will face sanctions under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.

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defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.

To encourage participation and healthy competition, the state will offer rewards for the cleanest Local Government Areas, Local Council Development Areas, and streets. This move is expected to not only improve sanitation but also reduce the incidence of flooding, a persistent challenge in Lagos. While some residents have welcomed the return of the exercise, concerns about potential abuses of movement restrictions and the need for sustained public education on waste management have been raised. The government urges all residents to embrace this initiative as a collective responsibility towards building a sustainable Lagos.

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there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.