Lagos Commissioner Wahab Debunks Movement Curbs for Sanitation

The Lagos State Government has affirmed that its citizens retain the freedom of movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. The state administration clarified that no official directive exists to restrict residents' movement, making any arrests based solely on commuting during the exercise illegal. This declaration came on Saturday from Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources.

Wahab's statement was a direct response to an inquiry posted on X (formerly Twitter). An X user, Faveo Autos, had questioned the penalty for movement during environmental sanitation, referencing an alleged arrest at Ikeja Police Station. The Commissioner asserted that the state government has never sanctioned any curbs on movement during the monthly clean-up activities, emphasizing that such arrests do not align with government policy.

He explicitly stated, "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 further elaborated that the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise aims to reinforce a culture of cleanliness throughout Lagos. He confirmed that this initiative is supported by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017. However, he pointed out a crucial detail: "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."

The Commissioner concluded by stating the government's preference for voluntary participation over strict enforcement. He added, "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."