Monthly sanitation: Sanwo-Olu hails residents, warns against illegal dumping of refuse  

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has hailed Lagos residents’ active participation in the monthly sanitation held in the state last Saturday, thanking them for aligning with the government’s decision to reintroduce the exercise after over 10 years’ suspension.

“I thank Lagosians who joined the call to clean up our environment as a sure step to good health. That is patriotic; it is the Spirit of Lagos that we often speak about. We should continue to walk that path,” Sanwo-Olu said, in a statement issued on Sunday by Gbenga Omotosho, his Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

The government acknowledged that the exercise, which spanned between 6:30am and 8:30am with restriction of vehicular movement, recorded massive turnout different parts of Lagos, including Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Alimoso, Ikeja and Agege.

The governor praised Lagosians for embracing the initiative and contributing to environmental cleanliness, while also warning against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially as the rainy season approaches.

Last Saturday’s exercise was monitored in Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the first of Lagos State, who described it as encouraging and gradually gaining acceptance across the state.

“I think the assessment for this morning is good. It was flagged off last month, and we are having the first exercise today. We have seen residents come out to participate. It is a gradual process, and people are becoming more aware,” she said.

The wife of the governor observed that restriction of movement between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. was largely adhered to, with traders keeping off the streets and residents actively cleaning their surroundings.

“For a first-timer, I am impressed,” she added, urging Lagosians to sustain the momentum by maintaining cleanliness beyond the monthly exercise.

“You don’t have to wait till sanitation day. Clean your environment daily. We also brought students out to encourage leadership by example and to catch them young,” she said.

Also speaking during the exercise, Tokunbo Wahab,  Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, said compliance level across the state exceeded 98 percent, attributing the success to voluntary participation and grassroots sensitisation.

“Vehicles were largely off the roads, and people complied. Lagosians want to keep the state clean and safe,” Wahab said.