The Lagos State Government has directed residents across the five divisions of the state to remain at home and participate fully in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, April 25, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, urging residents to clean their surroundings and clear drainage channels in front of their homes before engaging in other activities.
Wahab assured that adequate evacuation support would be provided, noting that compactor trucks and other waste management equipment had been deployed across the state. He added that the Lagos Waste Managem
ent Authority has been strategically positioned to promptly evacuate refuse and debris generated during the exercise.
To underscore the importance of the sanitation exercise, the First Lady, Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, alongside the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, will lead a monitoring team. Similarly, the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, will head another team of senior government officials to supervise compliance in a separate local government area.
The commissioner further revealed that major transport unions in the state have pledged to suspend operations during the sanitation period, ensuring minimal vehicular movement between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
According to Wahab, the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercise followed sustained calls from residents advocating for a designated period to clean their environment. He called on Community Development Associations (CDAs) to mobilise members and ensure the success of the initiative.
He added that all local governments, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), and some private organisations are supporting the exercise by providing tools and vehicles for waste disposal.
Wahab warned that environmental health officers and enforcement teams would be deployed across communities to monitor compliance. He noted that defaulters risk receiving abatement notices and possible prosecution under the Lagos State Environmental Management Law of 2017.
The monthly sanitation exercise was reintroduced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on March 14, when he led state officials in a cleanup exercise at Agege Motor Road in Mushin.
About The Author
