By Ejiofor Toochi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday carried out ‘Operation Clean Ikeja,’ an environmental sanitation exercise aimed at promoting community responsibility in waste management.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Ikeja Local Government, Project WISE (West Region), LAWMA Advocacy, and the LAWMA Local Government Monitoring Unit.
The sanitation operation commenced at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat and concluded at Alade Market, Allen Junction. It was led by the Executive Chairman and Vice Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Hon. Akeem Olalekan Dauda and Hon. Abisola Omisore, respectively, alongside environmental enforcement and advocacy teams.
According to the state government, the initiative goes beyond enforcement and is designed to encourage residents to take ownership of their environment. Officials stressed that while government intervention sets the pace for a cleaner city, lasting environmental sanitation depends largely on individual commitment.
Residents were urged to adopt proper waste disposal practices, comply with environmental laws, and actively participate in community sanitation efforts.
The exercise aligns with ongoing efforts by Lagos State to reinforce environmental sanitation standards and reduce public health risks associated with indiscriminate waste disposal. The Lagos State Government (LASG) has recently indicated that its monthly environmental sanitation exercise may resume by March 2026, according to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
The programme, traditionally held on the last Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 due to challenges with restricting movement across the city. The potential return aims to address growing waste management issues, such as clogged drains and indiscriminate dumping, with discussions with stakeholders still ongoing to ensure the exercise’s effective reinstatement.
