The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reinstate the compulsory monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to take place on the last Saturday of every month starting from March 2025.
The Lagos state government also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Lagos Island regeneration and deflooding projects, urging residents to take greater personal responsibility for maintaining cleanliness instead of relying solely on enforcement measures or movement restrictions.
The disclosure by Lagos State Government was made by Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, during an inspection tour of ongoing regeneration works, where he also pointed out several environmental violations on Lagos Island.
He was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu.
Wahab representing the Lagos State Government 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 Lagos State 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.
The Lagos State Government represented by Wahab 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.
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