Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has advised residents of Lagos State to ignore any directive restricting movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, arguing that such limitations have no legal backing.
Falana maintained that citizens are free to go about their normal activities, stressing that there is currently no valid law mandating compulsory restriction of movement during the exercise.
Falana stance, however, differs from that of the Lagos State Government, which on Friday insisted that the sanitation programme remains in effect and will be observed as scheduled. Authorities directed residents to stay indoors and take part in the exercise slated for Saturday, April 25, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
In a statement on X, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, dismissed reports suggesting that a court had invalidated the exercise.
He said, “No court pronouncement has invalidated this exercise. The state proceeded to the Court of Appeal, and judgment was delivered in our favour. The court affirmed that the laws used for the implementation and enforcement of environmental sanitation are legitimate and constitutional.”
Wahab urged residents to disregard what he described as misinformation about the legality of the programme.
The monthly sanitation exercise was reintroduced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on March 14, when he joined senior officials, including Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, in a cleanup operation along Agege Motor Road in Mushin.
Falana, however, criticised the policy, especially the restriction of movement for several hours on the last Saturday of each month, describing it as unconstitutional and inconsistent with existing court decisions.
He argued that, based on available information, the Lagos State Government has not formally reinstated any compulsory restriction regime.
According to him, residents are free to continue their lawful activities during the sanitation period, adding that participation should be voluntary rather than enforced.
Falana also noted that while the government encourages environmental cleanliness and cooperation with waste management authorities, forcing movement restrictions reflects outdated practices from the military era that are not compatible with democratic governance.
He further pointed out that the state has already demonstrated commitment to environmental protection, citing a ₦236 billion allocation in the 2026 budget for waste management, drainage, and environmental projects.
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