George George Idowu
Following the back and forth of monthly sanitation being reintroduced in Lagos State, the government has again announced plans to reintroduce its monthly sanitation exercise before the end of the year.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, made this revelation during an exclusive interview with Nairametrics.
According to him, the formal announcement will come from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu within the next few months.
Wahab said advocacy and sensitization efforts are already in motion to prepare residents for the return of the initiative.
In his words: “It is coming back, let me tell you for free. We are doing the advocacy now, and I believe that anytime before the end of this year, the governor will announce that.”
He further emphasized the importance of instilling a culture of cleanliness among Lagosians, noting that the government’s efforts are driven by the belief that “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Wahab also highlighted that sanitation exercises within the state’s markets have been ongoing, with traders practising cleanliness every Thursday morning. This reflects the government’s larger goal of maintaining a consistent sanitation schedule across the state. Which is also a move aimed at fostering a cleaner environment and improving waste management across the state.
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On the part of the legal standing of the sanitation exercise, Wahab clarified that a prior court ruling, often misunderstood by the public, does not prevent the government from reintroducing the program.
He said that while the case has progressed to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal had ruled in favour of the Lagos State Government, paving the way for the sanitation initiative to return.
In addition to the sanitation exercise, Wahab shed light on the state’s broader waste management efforts, particularly the ongoing partnerships under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Private operators, known as PSP operators, play a key role in waste collection, though challenges such as non-payment for services by residents have impacted their efficiency.
He explained that to address this, the government has provided financial support and implemented cross-subsidies to ensure the continuity of waste collection services.
Wahab also mentioned a recent partnership with Jospong Group, a Ghana-based waste-to-wealth company, as part of the government’s strategy to transform waste management in Lagos.
He added that under this collaboration, waste collected by PSP operators will be processed into compost fertilizers and recycled materials, with only 3% to 4% of waste being sent to landfills.
The Commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to turning “waste into wealth,” positioning Lagos as a leader in sustainable waste management practices.
