The Lagos State Government has directed residents across the state to remain indoors on Saturday, May 30, for the monthly environmental sanitation exercise aimed at improving cleanliness and reducing flooding in communities.
The exercise is scheduled to hold between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced this in a statement issued late Thursday, urging Lagos residents to actively participate in the exercise by cleaning their homes, drainage channels, surroundings and public spaces.
Wahab commended residents for the level of participation recorded during the April sanitation exercise, which marked the return of the monthly programme after years of suspension.
He said environmental cleanliness remains important for healthy living, disease prevention and sustainable development in a growing city like Lagos.
According to the commissioner, residents should use the two-hour exercise to clear blocked drains, dispose of waste properly and maintain clean surroundings to prevent environmental hazards.
“Environmental cleanliness is essential to healthy living and sustainable development,” Wahab stated.
He added that the monthly sanitation exercise has now become a permanent programme in Lagos State and called on residents to improve on the level of compliance witnessed during the April edition.
The Lagos State Government reintroduced the sanitation exercise in April as part of efforts to tackle flooding, poor waste disposal and environmental pollution across the state.
Monthly sanitation exercises were once common in Lagos and several other states in Nigeria, especially during the military era, when movement restrictions were enforced to encourage residents to clean their surroundings.
Over the years, the programme gradually faded in many states, but Lagos authorities say worsening environmental conditions and drainage problems have made its return necessary.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and most populated city, often experiences severe flooding during the rainy season due to blocked drainage systems, illegal dumping of refuse and rapid urban growth.
Government officials have repeatedly warned that poor environmental habits contribute to flooding, disease outbreaks and damage to roads and properties.
Wahab said top government officials would monitor compliance in different parts of the state during Saturday’s exercise.
According to him, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, will lead a delegation of officials to supervise the exercise in Alimosho Local Government Area.
He also disclosed that the Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, would monitor activities in Apapa Local Government Area.
The commissioner further stated that all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across Lagos would participate actively in monitoring the sanitation exercise.
He explained that sanitation officials and environmental enforcement teams would be deployed across communities to ensure compliance.
Wahab warned that residents who fail to clean their surroundings could face sanctions from the state government.
According to him, abatement notices would be issued to defaulters, while individuals or property owners who repeatedly ignore environmental regulations risk prosecution.
He urged Lagosians to embrace cleanliness as a daily habit rather than limiting sanitation efforts to government exercises alone.
The commissioner also warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels, roadsides and other unauthorised places.
Improper waste disposal remains one of the major environmental challenges facing Lagos, especially in densely populated communities.
Blocked drainage systems often lead to flooding during heavy rainfall, disrupting movement and destroying homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
The state government has repeatedly carried out demolition and drainage clearing operations in areas identified as flood-prone.
Wahab further cautioned residents against patronising illegal cart pushers for waste disposal.
Cart pushers, commonly used in some areas for refuse collection, have long been banned by the Lagos State Government because of concerns over indiscriminate dumping of waste.
The commissioner said the activities of Private Sector Participation operators, popularly known as PSP operators, had been expanded to serve more communities and improve waste collection across the state.
PSP operators are licensed private waste management companies responsible for collecting refuse from homes and businesses in Lagos.
The government has encouraged residents to register with approved operators instead of using illegal waste collectors.
Wahab assured residents that adequate compactor trucks had already been deployed across Lagos to ensure prompt evacuation of waste generated during and after the sanitation exercise.
He said the government remains committed to keeping Lagos clean, hygienic and flood-free despite the environmental pressures associated with rapid urbanisation and population growth.
Environmental experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of proper sanitation and waste management in preventing diseases such as cholera, malaria and other infections linked to dirty surroundings.
Residents in some parts of Lagos welcomed the continuation of the sanitation exercise, saying it could help improve environmental conditions if properly enforced.
Others, however, called on the government to strengthen waste disposal systems and provide more public waste bins in busy communities and markets.
The Lagos State Government has continued to urge residents to take greater responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings, insisting that environmental protection is a shared responsibility between government and citizens.
Wahab appealed to Lagosians to support the sanitation programme and develop a lasting culture of environmental cleanliness.
According to him, keeping Lagos clean is necessary to protect public health, reduce flooding and improve the quality of life for residents across the state.