Lagos sanitation movement restriction unlawful, says rights lawyer Adegboruwa

The Lagos State Government's monthly environmental sanitation exercise, a long-standing tradition aimed at maintaining public hygiene, has drawn sharp criticism from prominent human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN). Adegboruwa has vehemently denounced the restriction of movement imposed on residents during the exercise as unlawful and a violation of fundamental human rights. He argues that the government's directive, confining citizens to their homes for two hours each month, lacks any basis in current legislation.

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For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, there is currently no law in force in Lagos State which permits the government to restrict the movement of persons for the purpose of enforcing monthly environmental sanitation.

This stance challenges the government's justification, which reportedly relies on a 2017 health law. Adegboruwa dismisses this claim, demanding the law be made public and subjected to scrutiny, suggesting it may not even exist or be applicable. He further criticizes the enforcement methods as archaic, likening them to the oppressive tactics of military rule, and calls for a shift towards modern, internationally accepted practices that respect citizens' freedoms.

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The directive violates constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. The government cannot lawfully confine citizens to their homes under the guise of sanitation enforcement.

While the government, through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, defends the exercise, stating the restriction is not meant to punish residents, Adegboruwa's critique highlights a recurring tension between public order initiatives and individual liberties in Lagos. From a local perspective, sanitation is crucial for urban living, but the methods employed by the government are increasingly being questioned by legal experts and citizens alike, who demand transparency and adherence to democratic principles even in the pursuit of civic duties.

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The government claims to rely on a particular health law of 2017, which it has refused to publish or make available to the public. Let them produce the law if it truly exists.