Lagos State Government has announced that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume across the state on April 25, marking the return of the initiative nine years after it was suspended.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, shortly after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat carried out a symbolic clean-up of streets to signal the revival of the programme.
The sanitation exercise was previously suspended in November 2016 following a court ruling that declared the restriction of residents’ movement during the exercise unconstitutional and a violation of citizens’ rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty.
Before its suspension, the programme was held on the last Saturday of every month between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. However, authorities said the revived exercise will now run from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month, beginning with the April 25 exercise.
Wahab urged residents to actively participate by cleaning their surroundings, clearing drainage channels around their homes, and disposing of waste properly.
“This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier and flood-resilient Lagos,” the commissioner said, adding that the programme will be backed by full enforcement from the state government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also emphasised that maintaining a clean city requires the cooperation of residents, noting that environmental responsibility should not be left solely to government agencies. He described the reintroduction of the exercise as a renewed call for civic responsibility and community participation in keeping Lagos clean.
According to the state government, the decision to bring back the monthly sanitation programme followed more than a year of consultations and deliberations aimed at improving waste management, preventing flooding, and promoting environmental hygiene across the state.
