The Lagos State Government has clarified that there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, warning that any arrest or detention of residents solely for moving around during the exercise is unlawful.
The clarification was issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, following reports on social media alleging that some residents were being detained at the Ikeja Police Station for driving during sanitation hours. Wahab stressed that such actions do not reflect the policy of the state government.
“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,” the commissioner said. He explained that while the sanitation exercise is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, the law does not authorise restrictions on movement.
The statement came as residents in parts of Alimosho, including Akiwowo, Apatira and Alaguntan, complained about mounting heaps of refuse, saying irregular waste collection by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators was undermining the purpose of the monthly clean-up exercise. Many argued that despite cleaning their surroundings, uncollected waste continues to pose health risks and contribute to flooding.
Responding to the concerns, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, acknowledged the current waste collection challenges and assured residents that the situation would improve within the next six to eight months. According to him, local governments are procuring two additional compactor trucks each to strengthen waste evacuation across the state.
Also during Saturday’s sanitation exercise, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, urged Lagosians to make environmental cleanliness a daily habit rather than relying on the monthly exercise alone. She also warned residents against dumping refuse in drainage channels, noting that the practice contributes significantly to flash flooding during the rainy season.
The government reiterated that the goal of the sanitation programme is to encourage civic responsibility and environmental consciousness—not to restrict movement or harass residents.
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