No restriction on movement during sanitation exercise – Lagos commissioner

Lagos State Government has reiterated that residents are free to move during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing that there is no policy restricting movement and that any arrest based solely on movement is illegal.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the clarification on Saturday in a post on X while responding to a user, Faveo Autos, who sought clarification over an alleged arrest linked to the sanitation exercise at the Ikeja Police Station.

The X user had written, “What is the fine for movement during environmental…”

Responding, Wahab stated that the state government had not authorised the restriction of movement during the exercise and warned that arrests carried out on that basis were unlawful.

“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,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the monthly sanitation programme was revived to promote a stronger culture of environmental hygiene across Lagos and is supported by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

“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,” he said.

Wahab added that the government’s priority is to inspire voluntary public participation in keeping the environment clean instead of depending on punitive measures.

“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,” he said.

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