The Lagos State Government is set to reintroduce the suspended monthly environmental sanitation exercise as part of its broader efforts to ensure a cleaner, safer, and flood-free city.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Sunday during an inspection of Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago in Ojo Local Government Area.
Wahab emphasized the need to make sanitation a daily habit, revealing that the State Executive Council is currently reviewing the proposal.
He said:
“Lagos is strongly considering reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Once approved by EXCO, the Governor will officially announce the re-launch. It’s long overdue,”
The monthly exercise, usually held on the last Saturday of each month between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 due to the challenges of restricting movement in a fast-paced megacity. However, rising waste management issues—including clogged drains and indiscriminate dumping—have renewed public calls for its return.
Ahead of the Sallah celebrations, Wahab also declared a zero-tolerance policy on the sale of rams and other livestock on highways, warning that violators would be penalized.
“Livestock sellers must operate only within designated markets. Trading on highways is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Wahab further revealed that a syndicate had been linked to illegal waste dumping and cart-pushing activities around Idi-Araba.
“Cart-pushing is banned in Lagos. There is a law against it. We have intensified enforcement and will continue to crack down on these activities,” he said, adding that a dumpsite in Idi-Araba still in use by cart pushers poses a major environmental risk and will be addressed.
He also vowed to stop illegal trading under the Daleko Bridge and issued a warning to traders at Alaba Rago Market who have extended their activities to road medians and drainage channels.
“They have turned the median into a dumpsite and extended trading onto the roads. We’ve given them till Monday evening to comply. If they don’t, the market will be sealed,” Wahab stated, noting that market leaders have pledged to correct the violations.
At Orile-Iganmu, he ordered the immediate deployment of swamp buggies to clear the blocked Iganmu Channel, which has been obstructed by indiscriminate waste dumping.
The commissioner noted that over 100 trucks from LAWMA have been deployed across Lagos to support areas where PSP operators are underperforming.
“We’re intervening where necessary, but residents must take ownership of infrastructure and stop illegal waste disposal,” he said, urging citizens to bag waste properly, avoid dumping on roads and drainage channels, and patronize registered PSP operators.
Wahab’s inspection covered several locations including Ojerinde Street, Ewunmi Street, Wonuola Street, Takuro Street, Paul Okuntola Street, Taiwo Street (Idi-Araba), Alaba Rago Market, and the Iganmu Channel.
He was accompanied by key officials including Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser on Environment; Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary for Drainage Services; Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, MD of LAWMA; Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd), Corps Marshal of KAI; and Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, GM of LASWMO.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable environment and urged residents to support the initiative by complying with environmental laws.