By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has disclosed plans to reinstate the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise, reaffirming its commitment to a clean, flood-free, and environmentally sustainable city.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, during an extensive inspection tour of several sanitation-compromised locations across the state.
These areas included Ojerinde, Ewunmi, Wonuola, Takuro, Paul Okuntola, and Taiwo Streets in Idi-Araba, as well as Alaba Rago Market in Ojo Local Government Area and the Iganmu Channel in Orile.
He said: “We are poised to reintroduce the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise. This initiative will be supported by renewed enforcement and collaboration with local stakeholders.”
Wahab raised alarms over worsening sanitation conditions in areas like Idi-Araba, where activities of illegal cart pushers have created health and environmental risks.
“At Idi-Araba under Mushin Local Government, we observed a significant number of cart pushers, which is against the state’s environmental laws. Enforcement has been ongoing and will now be intensified across the state,” he said.
He added that an abandoned dumpsite in Idi-Araba is now under illegal use by a cart-pushing syndicate and vowed it would be dismantled immediately.
At the Daleko Bridge, Wahab warned roadside traders to vacate or face removal by the government.
“They’ve turned the road median into a waste dump. We’ve given them until tomorrow evening to clean up and relocate their goods into the market space. Failure to comply will result in the market being sealed,” he warned.
At Alaba Rago Market in Ojo, Wahab condemned the unsanitary practices and illegal market expansion onto public roads and drainage paths.
“The market chairman has pledged to correct all infractions, but if the traders fail to act responsibly, the Ministry will have no choice but to enforce strict sanctions,” he added.
The Commissioner also inspected the Iganmu Channel at Orile, which has become heavily silted due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse. He announced that swamp buggies would be deployed next week to clear the blocked channel and prevent flooding.
Addressing the broader challenges in waste management, Wahab noted that over 100 trucks from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have been deployed to support areas where Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators are facing operational difficulties. However, he emphasized that government effort alone cannot solve the issue.
“Many residents want to enjoy waste collection services but don’t want to pay. That has to stop. Every ward has designated PSP operators, and once residents pay, these operators are mandated to perform,” Wahab stated.
“Waste management is a shared responsibility,” he added, urging Lagosians to stop dumping refuse on roads, medians, and in canals, and to always bag their waste properly and use only registered PSP operators.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the tour by a high-powered delegation of senior officials and environmental enforcement leaders.
These included the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; the KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); and the General Manager of the Lagos State Waste Management Office (LASWMO), Engr. Adefemi Afolabi.
Together, the team visited multiple sanitation hot spots across Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago, issuing warnings, inspecting drainage channels, and engaging with local market leaders to ensure compliance with sanitation standards.