The Lagos State Government has clarified that there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing that anyone arrested solely for moving around during the exercise has been unlawfully detained.
The clarification was made on Saturday by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, following concerns raised by a resident on social media over an alleged arrest during the sanitation exercise.
The commissioner said the state government had never approved the restriction of movement during the monthly sanitation exercise, adding that any action by security personnel or other officials to arrest residents on that basis does not reflect the government’s policy.
Wahab made the clarification in a post on his verified X account while responding to an X user, identified as Faveo Autos, who sought clarification after an alleged arrest linked to the exercise.
The social media user wrote: “What is the fine for movement during environmental… Ikeja police station.”
Responding to the inquiry, the commissioner said there was no legal basis for such an arrest because the Lagos State Government had not imposed any movement restriction during the monthly sanitation program.
“For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government,” Wahab stated.
He explained that although the monthly environmental sanitation exercise has been reintroduced across the state, the program is aimed at promoting cleanliness and proper waste management rather than restricting people’s movement.
According to him, the exercise is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, but the law does not authorise the government or security agencies to stop residents from moving around during the exercise.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state. The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise,” he said.
Wahab further explained that the state government prefers public awareness and voluntary participation instead of using force or punitive measures to compel compliance.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures,” he added.
The clarification comes amid lingering public confusion over whether the monthly sanitation exercise automatically requires residents to remain indoors, as was the practice in Lagos several years ago.
For decades, Lagos residents observed monthly environmental sanitation exercises, usually held on the last Saturday of every month, during which movement was restricted for several hours to allow people clean their homes, streets and surroundings. Security agencies often mounted checkpoints to enforce compliance, and violators were arrested or fined.
However, the movement restriction aspect of the program was suspended years ago following court decisions and changing government policies, although the emphasis on environmental cleanliness has remained.
The Lagos State Government recently revived the monthly sanitation exercise as part of efforts to improve waste management, reduce indiscriminate dumping of refuse and tackle flooding caused by blocked drainage channels.
The state has continued to battle environmental challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, increasing population, poor waste disposal habits and heavy rainfall. Authorities have repeatedly warned that blocked drains and illegal dumping of refuse contribute significantly to flooding in many parts of Lagos.
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has therefore intensified public campaigns urging residents, market operators, businesses and community associations to keep their surroundings clean and ensure that drainage channels remain free of waste.
Officials have also carried out enforcement against environmental offences such as illegal waste dumping, street trading on drainage setbacks and activities that obstruct waterways. However, the commissioner stressed that movement during the sanitation period itself is not an offence under the law.
The latest clarification is expected to guide both residents and law enforcement agencies, especially after reports of alleged arrests during the exercise generated debate on social media.
Residents have been urged to continue supporting the sanitation program by cleaning their homes, business premises and neighbourhoods, disposing of waste properly and avoiding actions that pollute the environment.
The Lagos State Government said maintaining a clean environment is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of every resident. It added that while environmental laws will continue to be enforced against genuine offences, movement during the monthly sanitation exercise remains lawful, and no individual should be arrested simply for being on the road during the exercise.
The clarification is expected to remove uncertainty surrounding the reintroduced sanitation program and reassure residents that the government’s priority is to promote environmental responsibility through public cooperation rather than movement restrictions or unlawful arrests.