NIGERIA: Lagos Begins Monthly Sanitation Exercise April 25

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of a monthly environmental sanitation exercise, scheduled to hold on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., beginning April 25, 2026.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this via his verified X handle on Thursday, urging residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.

Wahab said, “A cleaner Lagos is a collective duty, and every stakeholder has a role to play.”

According to guidelines released by the Ministry, specific responsibilities have been outlined for different groups.

For landlords and property owners, the directive states they must “organise a compound sanitation plan and assign cleaning tasks to all tenants and household members at least two days before sanitation day.”

They are also required to “ensure all drainage channels, culverts, and gutters within and fronting the property are fully cleared,” while providing “adequate waste bins and clearly marked collection areas within the compound.”

Tenants and household members are also expected to play active roles. The guidelines state they must “participate fully in the compound sanitation organised by the landlord or compound committee,” and “clean your personal living space and sort your household waste into the three categories before sanitation morning.”

Residents are further warned to “not deposit refuse in drains, gutters, empty plots, or at your neighbours’ property.”

For businesses, the government emphasised that operators are responsible for maintaining their premises, noting that “business owners are responsible for cleaning their premises, including store fronts, parking areas, and waste storage areas, during the sanitation period.”

It also added that “all business waste must be pre-sorted and ready for LAWMA collection by 8:30 AM.”

The state government reiterated that compliance with these guidelines is essential to achieving a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable env

ironment across Lagos.