Lagos denies reintroducing environmental sanitation in July

The Lagos government has denied reports that the monthly environmental sanitation will be reintroduced in July. 

In a statement on Wednesday, Kunle Adeshina, director of public affairs at the Lagos state ministry of environment, urged residents to ignore the contents “of a fake” advisory making the round on social media.

Adeshina quoted Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner of environment, as saying that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, did not make any pronouncement on the monthly sanitation during his remarks on Sunday.

The Lagos commissioner said the reports are “the work of mischief makers who are keen on confusing residents”.

“Wahab explained that what Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu announced on Sunday during a sanitation sensitisation exercise at Campos playground Lagos island was that the state will start a weekly community based sensitisation and awareness exercise that will involve all residents,” the statement reads.

“Tokunbo Wahab added that at no time did Mr Governor make a pronouncement that the monthly exercise and restriction will start in July or any other month for now.

“The commissioner urged all residents to imbibe the culture of cleaning their surroundings all the time and not wait until the government declares a particular month for commencement of sanitation or restriction of movement.”

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, Sanwo-Olu flagged off the awareness campaign on the reintroduction of the environmental sanitation exercise at Campos playground, Lagos Island.

Speaking during the event, the Lagos governor said residents must embrace good hygienic practices to prevent disease outbreak in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said the awareness/sensitisation campaign will be taken round all the LGAs.

The Lagos governor said the state will soon make an announcement on the commencement of the exercise.

Recently, Wahab disclosed that Sanwo-Olu had approved the reintroduction of the exercise.

In November 2016, the Lagos government cancelled the monthly sanitation.