Nearly a decade after its suspension, the monthly environmental sanitation exercise is returning to Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the move during a stakeholders’ engagement on Saturday, framing the reintroduction as a “defining moment” for the state’s public health.
The governor emphasized that the exercise is not a political tool but a civic necessity driven by the mounting waste challenges facing the megacity.
A critical shift in this new iteration is the absence of movement restrictions. Recalling the 2016 cancellation by the previous administration following a legal challenge, Sanwo-Olu noted that while the state respects the court’s ruling on freedom of movement, the “responsibility to maintain a clean environment remains unchanged.”
The government aims to move from punitive enforcement to voluntary participation, urging Community Development Associations (CDAs) and market leaders to lead the efforts in their respective neighborhoods.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed that the decision followed over a year of consultations. He highlighted that Lagos is transitioning to a circular waste management model, where refuse is treated as a resource for energy and compost rather than a burden for landfills. Officials warned that clogged gutters are currently the primary cause of road deterioration, as stagnant water undermines even the most durable infrastructure.
