The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday announced the planned resumption of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise from April 25, 2026, news.ng reports.
The commissioner made the announcement in a post on his X account.
According to the commissioner, the exercise will kick off across the state on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
The commissioner stressed that the reintroduction of the exercise is aimed at maintaining a healthier and cleaner Lagos.
He stated:
“I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, held on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM.
“During this period, residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility. This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient Lagos. And it shall be backed with the full enforcement weight of the Lagos State Government.”
This has elicited reactions from some Lagos residents on social media, particularly on the microblogging platform, with many complaining about the timing of the exercise.
As monitored by this platform, a user, @mainolufemi, said: “Why 6 – 8 am? 10 am is the ideal for such a thing. This timing will not make people do the clean-up.”
Another user, @thirteenth, wrote: “If you like, extend it to 6 pm. Are you going to force people to do it ?”
Meanwhile, an X user, @AlamutuOla, is of the opinion that it is the responsibility of the state government, after all, landlords pay rates and other taxes to the state government.
According to the user, “Clearing of drainage channels is supposed the responsibility of the government after all landlords are paying tenements rate and other taxes. Government should employ direct labour to be doing the cleaning, leaving it for occupants will result in non-compliance and improper cleaning.”
Also, Wilson Steven is of the opinion that this kind of exercise should be handled by waste management authorities, as obtained in other climes.
He said, “Lagos wants to be a smart city, yet every month residents are told to stop movement and come outside to sweep the streets for a good 2hours.
“I believe this is the best time for the Lagos State government learns from the smart cities they want to imitate. In those cities, sanitation is handled by efficient waste management systems and not by shutting down the entire city for two good hours of productivity.
“And one honest question that should be asked is what exactly is the work of the Lagos Waste Management Authority if citizens still have to do the job monthly by themselves?
“A cleaner Lagos is important, but real solutions should be systems, infrastructure, and accountability, not just periodic exercises that will not see the light of the day the end of the season.”
While this is a welcome development, some concerned residents are worried about the timing and the level of compliance.
A user, Ogbeni Ade Omo Ade, said, “The time frame looks unrealistic. In fact, it’s a recipe for failure of this laudable exercise. 6.30 am to 8.30 am; most people are still in bed on Saturday morning from the Friday night hustle, clubbing, etc. The exercises should be felt in the whole of the city. 7.30 to 9.30 is ideal. Also, all local governments should collaborate with LAWMA to ensure strict adherence to compliance. Street by street, quarters to quarters, estate to estate monitoring with real-time waste removal from the designated points where residents will drop the waste is A MUST.”
Recall that the monthly exercise was cancelled by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in 2016 in an effort to boost economic activity in the state.
