The Lagos State Government has released additional information regarding the return of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which will resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The initiative will include movement restrictions and strict enforcement measures.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the sanitation exercise will take place on the last Saturday of each month, from 6:30 am to 8:30 am. During this period, movement across the state will be restricted to allow residents to thoroughly clean their homes, immediate surroundings, and drainage areas.
Wahab explained that enforcement teams—comprising officials from the ministry, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors—will carry out physical inspections during and after the sanitation period to ensure compliance. He cautioned that violators will face sanctions under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
Additionally, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) will deploy trucks to collect bagged waste generated during the exercise. Wahab also announced that the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and street will be rewarded to foster healthy competition and encourage community participation.
He urged all residents to support the initiative, stating, “We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Lagos.
This clarification comes after the official flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full rollout later this month.
The state government had previously announced in March that the monthly sanitation exercise would return nearly ten years after it was suspended in November 2016 due to a court ruling that restricted movement during such programs.
While many residents have welcomed the reintroduction, citing potential benefits like reducing indiscriminate waste disposal and mitigating flooding, others have expressed concerns about enforcement and the possibility of abuse of movement restrictions. There have also been calls for ongoing public education on proper waste management.
