“Arresting Anyone For Moving During Sanitation Exercise Is Unlawful” — Tokunbo Lagos Comm Wahab

The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, clarified that there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing that arresting anyone solely for moving around during the exercise is unlawful and does not reflect the policy of the Lagos State Government.

Wahab, in a social media narrative on Saturday, said the clarification became necessary following feedback from members of the public.

“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 environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced to revive and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across Lagos, noting that the initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

According to him, “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.”

Wahab emphasised that the state government’s objective is not to rely on enforcement but to encourage residents to take ownership of keeping their environment clean.

“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.

He urged residents to continue supporting the monthly sanitation exercise by participating actively in cleaning their surroundings, describing environmental cleanliness as a collective responsibility essential to building a healthier and more sustainable Lagos.