By Damilare Adeleye
Residents of Ojo Iba Local Government Area in Lagos State were stranded on Saturday morning as the state resumed its monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Across the area, scores of commuters were left in limbo at major bus stops, with only a handful of commercial buses and tricycles operating on the roads.
The restriction, which was enforced between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., resulted in reduced vehicular activity, compelling some residents to trek long distances to reach their destinations.
While the sanitation exercise was observed across the state and most shops remained closed in compliance with the directive, but participation on the part of the residents appeared uneven.
Although a number of residents were seen cleaning their immediate surroundings, many others lingered at bus stops, apparently waiting for the restriction period to lapse rather than engaging in the exercise.
Some residents, who spoke with our reporter, however, commended the state government for reinstating the sanitation programme, noting its relevance in addressing mounting environmental concerns.
A resident, Bolaji Adedokun, described the move as timely, stressing that the earlier suspension of the exercise had contributed to declining environmental standards.
“It’s good because when they cancelled the environmental (exercise), everywhere was too dirty. But now, people will have chance to clean their environment maybe within their one hour or two hours to just tidy up the environment,” he said.
Speaking on the plight of stranded commuters, he added, “It’s because that the exercise is 6:30 to 8:30. So before the bus will come outside, everybody is trying to be careful maybe because of the police. We’ll get used to it because you know, they have cancel it already before they just started and will get to it.”
Another commuter, Vincent Abraham, also welcomed the development, describing the exercise as a “welcome development.”
He underscored the importance of environmental hygiene to public health, saying, “cleanness is next to godliness, adding that “If you look at this Lagos state for now, you know that everywhere is very dirty. And it’s not good for a man to stay where there is a dirty because causes sicknesses. So now, as you can see that most of the area people takes time to clean their environment.”
Meanwhile, officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency were deployed across the area to monitor compliance and ensure adherence to the movement restriction.
Ahead of the exercise, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos had called on residents to take advantage of the sanitation window to clean their surroundings, particularly by clearing drainage channels to mitigate flooding.
“From 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, I ask everyone to play their part. Whether you are a resident, landlord or business owner, your role is vital. Clear the gutters in front of your property and ensure your waste is properly bagged for LAWMA. These simple actions help prevent flooding and reduce health risks,” the governor had said.
“Nobody should need reminders or pressure to keep their space clean. It is your home, so take care of it. This goes beyond government. It is about all of us taking pride in where we live and doing the simple things that make our environment better for everyone,” he added.