“No court stopped sanitation,” Wahab tells Lagos residents ahead exercise

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has announced the return of its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, urging residents to actively participate in efforts to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the exercise would hold on Saturday between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., marking what he described as a renewed commitment to environmental responsibility across the state.

Wahab dismissed claims that the sanitation exercise had been invalidated by the courts, insisting that the legal framework backing its enforcement remains intact.

According to him, the state government successfully challenged the matter at the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that the laws supporting the implementation of environmental sanitation are constitutional.

He urged residents to disregard contrary claims, describing them as misleading and capable of undermining collective efforts to improve public hygiene.

The commissioner said the exercise had been carefully planned over the past year, stressing that environmental cleanliness requires shared responsibility between government and citizens.

“We cannot continue to complain about dirty surroundings while neglecting our own roles. The environment belongs to all of us, and its upkeep must be a collective effort,” he said.

To ensure compliance, major transport unions controlling a significant portion of vehicles in Lagos have agreed not to operate during the sanitation period, effectively restricting movement across the state.

However, Wahab noted that exemptions would be granted for emergencies, airport-bound travellers with valid tickets, and candidates scheduled to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.

He said the Lagos Waste Management Authority has been mobilised to evacuate waste generated during the exercise, while environmental health officers will monitor compliance at the community level.

Defaulters, he warned, would be issued abatement notices in line with existing environmental laws.

The government said the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercise is aimed at fostering a culture of cleanliness, reducing flooding risks, and improving public health outcomes in the state.

Wahab called on residents to embrace the initiative, describing it as a simple but impactful step towards building a cleaner Lagos.