Lagos Residents Free to Move During Monthly Sanitation Exercise, Says State Government
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that residents are free to move about during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, clarifying that there is no law or policy restricting movement during the programme and warning that anyone arrested solely for travelling at that time is being unlawfully detained.
The clarification was made on Saturday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, following concerns raised on social media over the alleged arrest of a resident during the monthly sanitation exercise.
The issue came to public attention after an X user, identified as Faveo Autos, queried what the penalty was for moving around during the sanitation exercise, alleging that an individual had been detained at the Ikeja Police Station.
The user asked, “What is the fine for movement during environmental…”, prompting a response from the commissioner aimed at correcting what he described as a widespread misconception about the state’s environmental sanitation policy.
Responding through his official X account, Wahab categorically stated that the Lagos State Government has never imposed restrictions on residents’ movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
He stressed that any arrest carried out solely because an individual was travelling or moving around during the exercise is unlawful and does not reflect the official position 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 and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government,” Wahab stated.
The commissioner explained that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced as part of the government’s broader strategy to improve environmental hygiene, encourage cleaner surroundings and promote responsible waste management practices across the state.
According to him, the initiative is intended to revive the culture of community participation in environmental cleanliness and reinforce the importance of maintaining a healthy and sustainable urban environment.
Wahab noted that the sanitation exercise is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, which provides the legal framework for environmental management and sanitation activities in the state.
However, he clarified that contrary to public assumptions, the law does not contain any provision restricting the movement of residents during the sanitation 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.
The commissioner urged residents to disregard misinformation suggesting that movement is prohibited on sanitation days, reiterating that the government’s objective is to encourage voluntary participation rather than compel compliance through arrests or punitive measures.
He said the administration is focused on building public awareness about environmental responsibility and fostering a sense of collective ownership in keeping Lagos clean.
“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,” Wahab added.
The clarification is expected to allay concerns among residents who have long associated the monthly sanitation exercise with movement restrictions, a practice that existed in previous years when environmental sanitation days were accompanied by temporary travel bans enforced by security agencies.
The Lagos State Government has since discontinued that approach, replacing it with a policy centred on public sensitisation, community participation and voluntary compliance.
Environmental sanitation remains one of the key components of the state’s efforts to improve public health, reduce indiscriminate waste disposal, prevent flooding caused by blocked drainage systems and promote a cleaner urban environment.
With the latest clarification, the state government has reiterated that residents can carry out their lawful activities during the sanitation exercise without fear of arrest, provided they comply with other applicable laws.
The government also urged law enforcement agencies and other officials involved in environmental operations to align their actions with the state’s policy, emphasising that no individual should be harassed, arrested or detained merely for moving around during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
