Sanwo-Olu Urges Lagosians to Embrace Personal Responsibility Ahead of Monthly Sanitation Exercise
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on residents, landlords, and business owners to take personal ownership of environmental hygiene, saying the burden of keeping Lagos clean cannot rest on the government alone.
The governor made the appeal in a statement on Friday, ahead of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise scheduled to hold on Saturday between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Sanwo-Olu said building a greater Lagos demands more than physical infrastructure, arguing that collective environmental responsibility is equally central to the state’s development aspirations.
“A greater Lagos is not only about the bridges we build or the rails we lay. It is also about the environment we care for together,” he said.
The governor warned that blocked drainage systems and improper waste disposal pose serious health risks and threaten public infrastructure, urging residents to clear gutters in front of their properties and properly bag waste for collection by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
He added that cleanliness should be a matter of personal pride, not enforcement. “Nobody should need reminders or pressure to keep their space clean. It is your home, so take care of it. This goes beyond the government,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He concluded by calling on all residents to ensure their neighbourhoods reflect the standards of excellence that a world-class Lagos demands.
Lagos, home to an estimated 20 million people, has long grappled with waste management challenges driven by rapid urbanisation and population growth. Monthly sanitation exercises are part of the state government’s strategy to manage these pressures, though officials acknowledge that lasting change requires community-wide participation.
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