The Lagos State Government has praised residents for what it described as a strong turnout and improved compliance during the first monthly environmental sanitation exercise held in the state since 2016.
The exercise, which took place on Saturday, 25th April 2026, marked the formal return of a statewide clean-up programme that had been suspended for nearly a decade.
It required residents to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels, and properly dispose of waste between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the response from residents showed renewed civic responsibility and awareness about environmental hygiene.
Wahab said, “The exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier and flood-resilient Lagos.”
He added that the government would ensure strict enforcement going forward.
He also explained that the sanitation programme was not just symbolic but necessary for tackling persistent waste challenges in the state.
“Residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility,” he said.
Officials noted that compliance was generally encouraging across major parts of the state, with monitoring teams deployed to assess participation and environmental conditions during the two-hour window.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority also urged continued cooperation from residents, saying cleanliness remains a shared duty.
“Sanitation is everyone’s responsibility,” the agency said, calling on citizens to maintain clean surroundings beyond the exercise period.
The monthly sanitation exercise was last held in 2016 before it was suspended following legal and policy changes.
Authorities say its return is part of broader efforts to improve urban hygiene and reduce flooding risks in Lagos.
