Lagos Reintroduces Monthly Environmental Sanitation After 10-Year Suspension

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to begin in April after nearly a decade of suspension.

According to the governor, the exercise will hold on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Saturday during a stakeholders’ engagement on environmental sanitation, describing the initiative as a critical public health effort rather than a political programme.

He stressed that the goal of the exercise is to promote a cleaner and healthier environment across the state while encouraging residents to take responsibility for their surroundings.

The governor expressed concern over persistent sanitation challenges in areas such as Mushin, noting that the government’s efforts alone have not been enough to keep some communities clean.

“This exercise is not about politics or rivalry. It is about our collective responsibility to maintain a clean, healthy and safe environment for everyone,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He explained that the reintroduced sanitation programme is designed to reach all parts of the state and strengthen environmental awareness among residents.

According to him, the cleanliness of streets, markets, drainage channels and public spaces reflects the everyday habits of citizens, adding that sustainable environmental management requires public cooperation rather than government enforcement alone.

“A clean city is not achieved by the government alone. It is built every day by the actions of citizens in their homes, markets, communities and streets,” he said.

Monthly environmental sanitation in Lagos was suspended in November 2016 following a ruling by the Federal High Court.

The court had earlier ruled in March 2015 that restricting movement during the exercise from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. violated citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of movement.

Following the judgment, former governor Akinwunmi Ambode officially cancelled the mandatory monthly cleanup programme.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the sanitation exercise was once widely observed across Nigeria as a civic responsibility, with residents voluntarily cleaning their neighbourhoods on the last Saturday of each month.

While acknowledging the court ruling that ended movement restrictions during the exercise, the governor emphasised that the responsibility to maintain a clean environment remains unchanged.

“We respect the rule of law and the authority of the courts. Although the enforcement mechanism has changed, the duty of both government and citizens to maintain a clean and healthy environment remains the same,” he said.