Lagos to reintroduce monthly sanitation — after seven-year hiatus

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has approved the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner of environment and water resources, said the governor will announce the development this month.

In a 21-second video posted on the X handle of Lagos state environmental update, the commissioner said the exercise will return in July.

“Our governor and the state executive council have approved the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercise in Lagos state, beginning from this month,” Wahab said in Yoruba.

“The governor will personally make the announcement.”

There have been renewed calls for the Lagos government to reintroduce the exercise, as clogged drainage channels and roads littered with refuse, exacerbate the flood challenge in a densely populated city.

LAGOS SUSPENDED EXERCISE IN 2016

In November 2016, the Lagos state government cancelled the sanitation exercise, which held between 7am and 10am on the last Saturday of every month.

Steve Ayorinde, then commissioner of information, had said the decision was taken at the executive council meeting.

Ayorinde said considering the status of Lagos as a megacity, it was no longer appropriate to restrict movement for three hours.

The commissioner added that the government approved the cancellation for “a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state in order to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment”.

LEGAL ISSUES

The state government usually restricted movement of residents for three hours during the exercise.

Some residents, including legal practitioners, were displeased with the curfew.

On numerous occasions, the state government was dragged to court over perceived violation of the right to move freely.

In November 2016, the court of appeal in Lagos ruled that the restriction of movement of residents by the state government was “unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional”.

The appellate court restrained the state government or its agencies from arresting anyone in the state on the basis of environmental sanitation exercise.

The judgment was delivered in an appeal filed by Faith Okafor against the Lagos state government and attorney-general of Lagos state.