Lagos Reintroduces Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise to Promote Cleaner and Healthier Communities

Lagos residents have been urged to revive the culture of environmental responsibility as the state government officially re-introduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

At a symbolic flag-off ceremony held at Olosa Bus Stop in Mushin, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the exercise would now take place every last Saturday of the month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., without movement restrictions. He was joined by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and other state officials as they led residents in cleaning parts of the Mushin corridor.

The governor explained that the sanitation programme aims to restore a long-standing civic tradition where citizens voluntarily clean their surroundings, drainage systems and public spaces. According to him, the previous suspension of the exercise led to irregular environmental maintenance, making it necessary to reintroduce a structured system of community participation.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that maintaining a clean city is a shared duty between government and residents, noting that discipline, cooperation and consistent awareness would help sustain the initiative. He also assured that while enforcement mechanisms have been reviewed, appropriate sanctions would still apply to neighbourhoods or markets that fail to comply.

Meanwhile, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the move as a strategic step towards promoting a healthier and more liveable environment. He encouraged residents to take ownership of their surroundings, properly dispose of waste and embrace cleanliness as a daily habit.

The government believes the renewed sanitation exercise will not only improve public health and safety but also instil a lasting culture of environmental consciousness across Lagos communities.