Lagos Govt Set to Reinstate Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise

By Achimi muktar

After months of speculation, the Lagos State Government has confirmed what many had anticipated: monthly environmental sanitation is making a comeback—and this time, it’s more than just a clean-up routine; it’s a movement.

The announcement, made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, signals a renewed push by the government to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and restore cleanliness across the state.

“Let us be clear: sanitation is not seasonal, it is a lifestyle,” Wahab declared. “With the resumption of monthly environmental sanitation soon, we’re bringing back the culture of cleanliness.”

While the commissioner stopped short of naming an official restart date, the tone of his message and the accompanying enforcement actions suggest that residents should start preparing immediately.

Wahab’s declaration followed a hands-on inspection tour of several sanitation hotspots including Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago, areas notorious for poor waste management. At Alaba Rago in particular, traders were given a hard deadline of Monday evening to clear illegal dumps or face full market closure.

This isn’t just talk. The Lagos Government appears ready to back its sanitation campaign with strict enforcement.

“We’re intensifying cleanup operations and cracking down on illegal dumping—especially in markets,” Wahab warned.

To show it means business, the state has rolled out more than 100 Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) trucks to cover all 377 wards across Lagos. Surveillance and cleanup efforts are also being scaled up to ensure a cleaner, flood-resistant city.

But officials say the government can’t do it alone.

Wahab urged residents to do their part:
Bag waste properly
Engage accredited PSP (Private Sector Participant) operators
Stop dumping refuse on medians, gutters, and drainage channels

For long-time Lagosians, the monthly environmental sanitation exercise—once held on the last Saturday of every month—was a routine part of life. Its suspension several years ago left a noticeable void in waste control and community involvement in cleanliness.

Over the past year, the government has dropped multiple hints about the exercise's return. In an October 2024 interview with Nairametrics, Wahab revealed that advocacy and sensitization campaigns were being launched to prep the public for the reintroduction.

Though the plan didn’t materialize before the end of 2024, this latest update feels different—more urgent, more coordinated, and more likely to stick.

While no specific date has been announced, all signs point to an imminent rollout. Residents and business owners are being urged to take initiative now or face penalties. The coming weeks could usher in a new era of environmental responsibility in Lagos, where cleanliness is enforced and embraced as part of daily life.