Lagos and the return of monthly sanitation 

By TAYO OGUNBIYI 

It is no longer news that the Lagos State Government is reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Recall that the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently flagged off the reintroduction of the monthly exercise, saying it will be taking place every last Saturday of the month from 6.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m.

The governor, who spoke at the symbolic flag-off of the monthly exercise organised by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, held at Mushin-Agege Motor Road corridor, Lagos, noted that a clean city is not achieved by government alone but by the daily actions of the people who live in it.

The governor, who emphasised that movement will not be restricted in the state during the two hours, appealed to the residents to voluntarily comply with the directive or face the wrath of the Environmental Management Law 2017.

He said: “The condition of our streets, our markets, our drainage channels, and our public spaces reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to one another and to the environment we share. In a city as large and dynamic as Lagos, maintaining a clean and healthy environment must remain a collective civic duty”.

Since the governor made the pronouncement, it has been met with diverse reactions. While many see it as a welcome and laudable development, others see it as an unnecessary move. In a pluralistic society like Lagos, such assorted sentiments are largely not unexpected.

It is, however, important to stress that, being one of Africa’s most vibrant and rapidly growing megacities, Lagos requires collective commitment to environmental sustainability.

Therefore, by bringing back the monthly sanitation exercise, the government is demonstrating responsible and responsive governance aimed at safeguarding public health, promoting environmental cleanliness and strengthening community participation in maintaining a livable city.

The reintroduction of the exercise reflects the unwavering determination of the government to uphold the highest standards of environmental management while encouraging residents to take ownership of their immediate surroundings.

For decades, the exercise has played a vital role in instilling a culture of cleanliness and civic responsibility among residents.

Its return would not only help address sanitation challenges but would also promote public awareness about proper waste disposal, drainage maintenance, and environmental hygiene.

It is, thus, another bold step to strengthen preventive public health measures, reduce environmental hazards, and protect communities from sanitation-related challenges.

The condition on the streets, markets, the drainage channels, and public spaces reflected the seriousness with which everyone must take responsibility for the environment that they all share. In a city as large and dynamic as Lagos, maintaining a clean and healthy environment must remain a collective civic duty and responsibility that all residents must uphold. 

The return of the monthly exercise offers an opportunity for all residents to revive the culture of environmental consciousness in all the communities and in society. The exercise will be driven by awareness, partnership and voluntary participation, just as the government continues to strengthen the waste management system in the State.

Lagosians need to understand that careless dumping of waste on the streets and into the drains would make this infrastructure dilapidated. Actions as simple as disposing of materials such as plastic bottles, wood, wrappers and solid wastes, among others, responsibly can make a real difference.

It is, thus, crucial for residents to imbibe the culture of regular sanitation as this will prevent the spread of communicable diseases. 

In a city of over 20 million people, the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation is more than a policy announcement. It is a reckoning with what it truly means to govern a megacity and what it demands of the people who live in it.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the return of the monthly sanitation is that it is now an obligation for the residents and not mandatory. 

This is a subtle but significant shift aimed at strengthening civic responsibility without the rigid enforcement measures previously associated with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The new approach is designed to encourage voluntary compliance among residents, while still emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment across the state.

The term “obligatory” reflects a moral and civic duty expected of all Lagosians, rather than a strictly enforced directive backed by movement restrictions.

Under the revised framework, residents, businesses and communities are expected to take ownership of their immediate environment by ensuring proper waste disposal, regular cleaning of drainage systems, and adherence to environmental laws.

While there may no longer be enforced lockdowns during sanitation hours, enforcement agencies will continue to monitor compliance and penalise indiscriminate waste disposal.

Environmental experts have described the policy adjustment as a pragmatic response to the realities of a rapidly growing megacity like Lagos. They note that sustainable sanitation practices are better achieved through continuous habits rather than periodic exercises.

As the state continues to grapple with challenges such as flooding and waste management, the success of the “obligatory” sanitation model will depend largely on the willingness of Lagosians to embrace environmental responsibility as a daily practice.

The onus is, therefore, on all residents of Lagos State, community development associations, market groups, youth organisations, and civil society stakeholders to embrace this initiative wholeheartedly.

Environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility, and the success of this exercise depends largely on the cooperation and active participation of all Lagos residents.

With the cooperation and necessary buy-in of all stakeholders, the policy would significantly contribute to the continued transformation of Lagos into a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable megacity.

The quality of our lives, as human beings, is considerably a reflection of the quality of the environment in which we dwell. Therefore, we need to change our attitude toward environmental issues. When we imbibe positive attitudinal change towards the environment, we are sure of living free of any pollutants or hazards that we might introduce into our environment through human-induced activities.

Protecting the environment is, without doubt, the best way to protect ourselves against diseases and other harmful environmental hazards.

Traditionally, talks on environmental protection often center on the role of government, legislation, and law enforcement. However, environmental protection ought to be the duty of all people and not simply that of the government.

 Therefore, we all need to embrace a positive attitude towards the environment. Parks should not be turned into marketplaces, toilets, refuse dumps, or places where animals graze. Failure to control animals or allowing their defecation or engaging in an unhygienic use of fountains, pools, or water in the parks, gardens, and open spaces would be counterproductive and, as such, must be discouraged.

With natural disasters occurring across the world, as a result of the abuse of the environment, it is time for everyone to rethink their attitude toward the environment. As previously stated, it is whatever we give to the environment that it gives back to us.

Community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs, and other stakeholders should work in partnership with the state government to ensure that current gains in the sector are sustained. It is only in doing this that the government’s massive investment in protecting the environment will not be a waste.

•Ogunbiyi is Director of Public Enlightenment & Community Relations, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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