Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially announced the return of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise across Lagos State.
Speaking on Saturday at the Olosa Bus Stop in Mushin during a symbolic flag-off ceremony, the Governor revealed that the exercise will henceforth take place on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 am and 8:30 am.
The Governor clarified that unlike previous iterations of the program, there will be no restriction of movement during these hours.
However, he emphasized that the exercise will be strictly monitored by state officials, with appropriate sanctions prepared for erring neighborhoods and markets that fail to comply with the cleaning mandate.
Sanwo-Olu, who was joined by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the State Cabinet, noted that environmental responsibility must be an instinctive lifestyle for all residents.
Reflecting on the decline of voluntary sanitation following the cancellation of the exercise by a previous administration, Sanwo-Olu recalled a time when citizens took collective civic pride in clearing their drains and surroundings.
He addressed the legal history of the program, noting that while the State Government respected a past court judgment regarding movement restrictions, the current haphazard state of public spaces, markets, and drainage channels necessitated a refined return of the initiative.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, described the move as a bold step aligned with the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda.
He assured residents that officials from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) would be stationed to collect and dispose of gathered waste promptly.
Wahab further warned that any community attempting to defy the directive should be mindful of the Lagos State 2017 Environmental Protection Law, asserting that the government is prepared to deal with offenders to ensure a flood-free and livable environment for future generations.