Lagos State Government on Friday, April 24, 2026, advised the residents to disregard misinformation surrounding its reintroduction of monthly environmental sanitation scheduled to begin on Saturday.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said that certain quarters had argued that the sanitation issue was still in court, thereby questioning the state government’s rights to go ahead with the exercise.
Wahab disclosed at a news conference on Friday in Lagos that the law was on the side of government to proceed with the exercise, and that residents should show commitment to the exercise to improve cleanliness and promote health.
He said the exercise would hold monthly between 6.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. during which residents would be expected to clean their surroundings.
Wahab said the initiative was aimed at restoring the culture of environmental cleanliness and responsibility that declined over the years.
“Government cannot do it alone. Residents must take ownership of their environment,” he said.
Wahab noted that key stakeholders, including transport unions, community development associations, market leaders and local government officials, were fully aligned with the programme.
The commissioner emphasised that awareness about the exercise would be continuous, describing it as critical to achieving the desired result.
According to him, environmental sanitation should be seen as a civic responsibility.
“We must prioritise public health and environmental safety,” he said.
Wahab cited global responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic to underscore the importance of collective discipline and action.
He said that exemptions would be granted for essential service providers and emergency responders during the exercise.
The commissioner urged Lagos residents to devote the two-hour period to cleaning their environments.
Mrs. Temitope Dosumu, Head of Geocycle Nigeria at Lafarge Africa Plc., said the firm would support the initiative through waste collection and processing.
Dosumu said that the firm would focus on sorting and managing waste for industrial reuse in line with the company’s zero-waste goal.
Heads of agencies under Lagos State Ministry of the Environment attended the conference along with other critical stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Alimosho Local Government, Mr. Johnson Akinpelu, has urged residents to prepare and actively participate in the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Akinpelu said in a statement on Friday that it was incumbent on all the residents to understand that a cleaner environment was the foundation for healthy living.
“We must cultivate the habit of keeping our surroundings clean. Littering the streets is a bad practice, and a dirty environment is harmful to our health.
“The reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation by the Lagos State Government is a welcome development that we must all support and appreciate,” he said.
According to him, the council will continue to do everything within its power to ensure a cleaner Alimosho.
The chairman called on all residents, community leaders, traders, and stakeholders to take ownership of the initiative and contribute meaningfully to maintaining a safe, hygienic, and sustainable environment for all.
Also, Mrs. Opeyemi Akindele, the Chairman, Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said in a statement on Friday that the reintroduction of the exercise would promote a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for all residents.
“We are aligning fully to this initiative to promote a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all residents.
“This exercise is not just a routine, it is a civic responsibility. A clean environment reduces health risks, prevents flooding caused by blocked drainage, and enhances the overall wellbeing of our communities.
“Residents of Mosan Okunola are therefore urged to actively participate,” the chairman said.
According to her, the exercise will allow them to clean their homes and immediate surroundings, desilt gutters and drainage channels and dispose waste responsibly through approved channels.
The chairman added that supporting community sanitation efforts would help sustain the vision of a cleaner Lagos and a healthier Mosan Okunola LCDA.
“Let us all come out, take responsibility, and keep our environment safe,” she said.
By Fabian Ekeruche, Olaitan Adekeye and Kazeem Akande