Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Lagos State Government is considering the return of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in response to the deteriorating state of hygiene across the metropolis.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this during an inspection of Idi-Araba, Orile Iganmu, and Alaba Rago in Ojo Local Government Area on Sunday.
“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 stated, pointing to the urgency of addressing the filth and blocked drainages witnessed across major communities.
Streets littered with refuse, overflowing gutters, and the foul stench of decay have become a familiar sight in Lagos, reflecting both a systemic failure and a widespread culture of neglect.
“People have developed a negative attitude towards cleanliness,” Wahab lamented., adding, “We can’t continue like this and expect a safe and flood-free city.”
The commissioner criticized residents who dump waste indiscriminately and ignore basic hygiene practices, warning that such behavior not only endangers public health but also fuels flooding during the rainy season.
The proposed return of the exercise, last held in November 2016, marks a shift back to a structured communal cleanup, traditionally enforced on the last Saturday of each month.
With public infrastructure under strain and environmental hazards rising, the government appears to be bowing to increasing pressure to reinstate the measure.
Officials hope that reviving the exercise will restore discipline and civic responsibility in Lagosians, while signaling a renewed focus on environmental management in Africa’s most populous city.
