By Taiwo Scholarstica
The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that it has authorised members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to take over the duties of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, or arrest environmental offenders.
The clarification was made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement issued on Tuesday in response to what he described as misleading reports and social media posts.
According to Wahab, recent claims that the government was empowering NURTW members to function as waste police or assume environmental enforcement responsibilities are false and do not reflect the purpose of the state’s engagement with transport unions.
He explained that the collaboration between the government and transport stakeholders was designed to address persistent environmental challenges within parks, garages and the wider transportation ecosystem.
Wahab noted that issues such as illegal trading and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities remain major concerns requiring the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
The commissioner stressed that LAGESC, working alongside the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the only agency legally empowered to enforce environmental regulations on behalf of the ministry.
He said the partnership with transport unions is intended to promote shared responsibility, encourage compliance with sanitation regulations and improve waste management practices within parks and garages across the state.
“This partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer, or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force,” Wahab stated, adding that the initiative is aimed at strengthening environmental compliance and stakeholder participation.
He further reassured residents that environmental cleanliness remains a key priority of the state government and pledged continued collaboration with relevant groups to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.
The government urged Lagosians to disregard misinformation on the issue, insisting that environmental enforcement remains the responsibility of the appropriate state agencies while transport unions play only a supportive role in promoting cleanliness and proper sanitation practices.