June 01, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
The Lagos State Government is planning to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which was suspended in 2016 after Faith Okafor sued the government over restrictions on movement.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced this on his official X account on Sunday.
The commissioner mentioned to have inspected Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago in Ojo Local Government Area.
The exercise, previously held on the last Saturday of every month, was stopped due to legal challenges.
However, the government now believes it’s time to revive it. “Lagos is strongly considering reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Once approved by EXCO, the Governor will officially announce the re-launch. It’s long overdue,” Wahab said.
Wahab emphasized the importance of daily sanitation practices and warned against illegal activities such as cart-pushing and waste dumping.
“Cart-pushing is banned in Lagos. There is a law against it. We have intensified enforcement and will continue to crack down on these activities,” he stated.
The commissioner also addressed issues related to the upcoming Sallah festival, declaring zero tolerance for livestock sales on highways.
“Livestock sellers must operate only within designated markets. Trading on highways is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Wahab warned.
Wahab directed the deployment of swamp buggies to clear the blocked Iganmu Channel and warned traders in Alaba Rago Market to relocate from road medians and drainages. “They have turned the median into a dumpsite and extended trading onto the roads. We’ve given them till Monday evening to comply.
“If they don’t, the market will be sealed,” he said.
The government has deployed over 100 LAWMA trucks to support waste management efforts and urged residents to take ownership of infrastructure and adhere to environmental regulations.
