Lagos State residents have been urged to adopt positive environmental habits and take greater responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean as the state government intensifies efforts to sustain the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation.
The call came during the fourth edition of the sanitation exercise held across the state on Saturday, with government officials expressing satisfaction over growing public participation while stressing the need for sustained behavioural change.
At Eputu London in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, commended residents for their active involvement in the exercise, describing their response as evidence of increasing environmental consciousness.
According to her, many residents began cleaning their surroundings days before the official sanitation period, demonstrating a commitment to environmental cleanliness.
“We noticed that both children and parents came out very early. In fact, some residents started cleaning three days ago. That shows people are becoming more aware and conscious of their environment,” she said.
Dr Sanwo-Olu noted that despite flooding challenges in some parts of the state, residents were making deliberate efforts to clear debris and maintain cleaner communities.
She said the state government was also deliberately involving young people in the exercise to build a new generation of environmental champions.
“Our children have been here since as early as 6:30 a.m. We are catching them young so they can continue the culture of environmental responsibility. By next month, we will also involve students from tertiary institutions,” she added.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the government was strengthening waste management infrastructure across the state, including ongoing work at the Olusosun Waste Transfer Loading Station and plans for a Material Recovery Facility.
He stressed that residents must take ownership of waste management rather than indiscriminately dumping refuse on roads, medians and drainage channels.
“Habits built over time take time to change, but with consistency, advocacy and proper messaging, we will get there. People should not dump waste indiscriminately. If a PSP operator fails to collect waste, residents should contact LAWMA for intervention,” Wahab said.
He assured residents that while government would continue public enlightenment campaigns, enforcement and sanctions would also be applied where necessary.
Meanwhile, in Badagry, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Rotimi Akodu, attributed many of the environmental challenges facing Lagos to poor attitudes towards waste disposal and environmental management.
Leading a government delegation on inspection during the sanitation, Akodu urged residents to adopt a more responsible attitude towards their environment and support government efforts to maintain cleaner communities.
He assured residents that the state government would not relent in its campaign against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other environmental violations.
Akodu also commended Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs) in Badagry for their participation in the exercise, noting that the inclusion of students in the monthly sanitation programme was aimed at raising future environmental advocates.
“The involvement of students is deliberate. We want to catch them young and groom them as environmental champions who will protect the future of Lagos,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, disclosed that his administration had established a Waste Police Unit to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws within the council area.
Hunpe said the initiative was part of measures to support the state government’s environmental sustainability agenda and improve sanitation standards in Badagry.
He pledged continued collaboration with the state government to ensure a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally friendly Lagos.
The monthly environmental sanitation exercise, reintroduced by the Lagos State Government earlier this year, is aimed at promoting environmental hygiene, reducing flooding caused by blocked drainage systems and encouraging residents to take collective responsibility for the cleanliness of their communities.