The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reintroduce the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise as part of renewed efforts to combat poor hygiene, indiscriminate waste disposal, and illegal trading activities across the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this known on Sunday during an inspection tour of Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago.
Wahab stated that a formal commencement date will soon be announced to the public.
“Lagos is strongly considering reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Once approved by EXCO, the Governor will officially announce the re-launch. It’s long overdue,” Wahab said.
The monthly environmental sanitation exercise, traditionally conducted on the last Saturday of each month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016.
The government attributed the suspension to the difficulty of restricting movement in a megacity.
However, growing concerns over poor waste management—such as blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal—have led to renewed calls for its reinstatement.
During the inspection, Wahab revealed that the ministry had uncovered a syndicate behind illegal cart-pushing operations in Idi-Araba.
He said cart-pushing is prohibited under the state’s environmental laws and assured residents that enforcement actions will intensify across all affected areas.
“At Idi-araba, under Mushin Local Government area, we observed a lot of cart pushers and there is a law on environmental management and protection in the state which prohibits cart-pushing,” he said
He also noted that an abandoned dumpsite in Idi-Araba is still being used by cart pushers and vowed that the area would be cleared and monitored moving forward.
Enforcement will also target traders operating under Daleko Bridge, whose activities further degrade the area.
At Alaba Rago Market, Wahab expressed disappointment that traders had turned road medians into dump sites, extended their stalls illegally onto roads, and blocked drainage channels.
“We have given them till tomorrow evening; afterwards, we’ll determine if the market should or shouldn’t be sealed,” he warned.
The Commissioner stressed that trading on roads, medians, and drainage setbacks is illegal under Lagos State Environmental Law and warned that non-compliant markets will be sanctioned without exception.
The market chairman has reportedly agreed to begin cleanup efforts and take responsibility for maintaining the market’s surrounding infrastructure.
Wahab also visited Orile Iganmu, where he directed that swamp buggies be deployed next week to clean out the Iganmu Channel, which has been blocked by indiscriminate waste disposal.
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