- State Plans Tougher Enforcement, Incentives to Sustain Momentum
- Agege, Ikorodu, Mainland Shine as Oworonshoki Records Weak Response
When Lagos State reintroduced its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, it hoped to revive a culture of cleanliness once taken seriously across the city.
However, the first round has revealed a more complicated reality, one shaped by uneven compliance, differing attitudes, and questions around enforcement.
In Oworoshoki, participation was visibly low. Streets such as Salami, Ireku and Oriola saw little activity, as many residents ignored the exercise and went about their normal routines.
For some residents who spoke, the problem lies not in the policy but in its weak enforcement, arguing that without strict monitoring, compliance would remain voluntary and inconsistent.
Elsewhere, however, the story was markedly different.
In Agege, the exercise had the backing of local leadership. The council chairman, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, led sanitation teams alongside officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), with residents turning out in large numbers.
“Cleanliness must become a daily culture, not just a monthly obligation observed during sanitation exercise,” Obasa said, stressing that the initiative is part of deliberate efforts to prevent health hazards and instill discipline among citizens.
Traditional authority also lent its voice. The Olu of Agege, Oba Kamila Isiba, described the exercise as a welcome development.
“The exercise will help us build a healthier Lagos and strengthen unity among our people. I believe everything will work fine; it is a good initiative and we are happy about it,” he said.
Across Lagos Mainland and Ikorodu, compliance was equally strong, with local authorities deploying task forces to enforce participation and residents responding positively. The exercise was widely described as successful in those areas.
In Lekki and Ejigbo, organised community groups also played a key role. Residents, including members of the Lekki Residents Association, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, noting that if sustained, it would improve environmental health, safety and overall wellbeing.
At the state level, the government signalled both approval and next steps. The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who monitored the exercise in Ikoyi and Obalende, commended areas with high compliance while outlining plans to deepen participation.
“After today’s exercise, we will assess all local governments and announce the cleanest among them for recognition,” Wahab said, adding that incentives would be introduced to encourage healthy competition and sustained cleanliness.
What emerges is a city of contrasts. While some communities are embracing the sanitation exercise as a shared responsibility, others remain detached, held back by weak enforcement or low awareness.
For Lagos, the task ahead is clear: turning a policy into a culture. Until then, the success of the monthly sanitation exercise may continue to depend largely on where you live and how seriously your community takes it.
