Lagos Plans Awards for Cleanest Communities as Monthly Sanitation Exercise Continues
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce a statewide cleanliness competition across its 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to promote community-led environmental hygiene and recognise the cleanest localities.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on Saturday during the October monthly environmental sanitation monitoring exercise in Ikorodu. The exercise marked the seventh monthly cleanup since the initiative resumed in March.
Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the level of community participation and environmental cleanliness observed along major roads and commercial areas in Ikorodu.
“I am very impressed. I noticed that they have taken our environmental sanitation very seriously. While we were coming, I was looking at the cleanliness along the roads, especially in the market spaces,” she said.
She particularly commended the early participation of young residents, waste management workers, traffic officers and traditional leaders, noting that children had joined the cleanup as early as 6:00 a.m.
“Importantly, we noticed our children; they had been here since 6:00 a.m. They had been cleaning even before I came. The LAWMA staff were also working, and the sweepers were outside. All hands were on deck,” she added.
The First Lady urged residents to sustain the effort beyond the monthly sanitation exercise, challenging Ikorodu to emerge as the cleanest locality in the planned competition.
“All the local governments will take part, and they will announce the best or the cleanest environment in Lagos very soon,” she said.
She also defended the monthly sanitation exercise against criticism from members of the public who have questioned its relevance and the resources committed to it.
Comparing the exercise to routine safety announcements on commercial flights, Sanwo-Olu said continuous public awareness was necessary to encourage responsible environmental habits.
“It might seem unnecessary to some people, but the awareness is a continuous exercise. It is just like when you enter a plane; every time you enter the plane, they remind you, whether you are in first class or economy class, to fasten your seat belts,” she said.
She acknowledged that the initiative could face initial challenges but expressed confidence that they would be addressed.
Sanwo-Olu also urged residents to extend environmental cleanliness efforts to their homes, schools, markets and local communities.
Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Mr Bode Agoro, warned residents against dumping refuse into canals and drainage channels, saying the practice threatens public sanitation and increases the risk of flash flooding.
Agoro gave the warning during a simultaneous sanitation monitoring exercise in Ikeja Local Government Area, where he was accompanied by the council chairman, Akeem Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as AKOD, and other council officials.
He said government officials had personally observed residents dumping waste into waterways during the exercise, stressing that maintaining a clean environment required sustained cooperation from residents and community leaders.
The Head of Service said the Ministry of the Environment had been alerted to clear blocked drainage channels, while discussions were ongoing with relevant drainage authorities on the reconstruction of some affected infrastructure.
However, he warned that such interventions would not produce lasting results if residents continued to dispose of waste indiscriminately.
He called on local government chairmen and community leaders to mobilise residents and promote better environmental practices across their respective areas.
Dauda said the Ikeja council was conducting awareness campaigns to discourage illegal waste disposal.
He also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustaining the monthly sanitation exercise, noting that it had encouraged greater community participation and accountability.
The cleanup operations in Ikeja covered major streets and corridors, including Onilekere Street, Saidu Street, Olumo Street, Ijesha Close and Olukoyi Street.
