The Lagos State Government has reiterated that any arrest based solely on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, is illegal, stating that residents are free to move around.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the clarification in a post on X while responding to clarification over an alleged arrest linked to the sanitation exercise at the Ikeja Police Station.
He noted that the state government had not authorised the restriction of movement during the exercise and warned that arrests carried out on that basis were unlawful.
The commissioner explained that the monthly sanitation programme was revived to promote a stronger culture of environmental hygiene across Lagos and is supported by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.
Wahab added that the government’s priority is to inspire voluntary public participation in keeping the environment clean instead of depending on punitive measures.
