Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Government has announced detailed guidelines for the return of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, scheduled to commence on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and strict enforcement across the state.
Speaking in a statement on Wednesday, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the exercise would take place on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
He explained that movement would be regulated during the sanitation period to enable residents clean their homes, surroundings and drainage systems effectively.
According to him, monitoring teams drawn from relevant agencies, including the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Kick Against Indiscipline and local government sanitation units, will be deployed to ensure compliance.
He warned that individuals who fail to participate or violate the directive would face penalties in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
Wahab added that waste evacuation trucks operated by the Lagos Waste Management Authority would be deployed to collect refuse generated during the exercise.
To encourage participation, the government also plans to introduce incentives, including awards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area and street.
The commissioner urged residents to support the initiative, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining a clean and safe environment.
The announcement follows the earlier symbolic launch of the sanitation exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full rollout this month.
The state had initially disclosed plans in March to reinstate the sanitation programme, nearly 10 years after it was halted in November 2016 due to a court ruling that restricted movement enforcement.
While the decision has been welcomed by some residents as a step toward improving hygiene and reducing flooding, others have expressed concerns over possible misuse of enforcement measures and called for sustained public awareness on proper waste disposal practices.
