Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has stressed the importance of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, saying it remains essential to promoting public awareness and maintaining a clean environment across the state.
She also disclosed that the state government would soon announce the cleanest local government area as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and improve environmental hygiene among communities.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Saturday during the October environmental sanitation exercise in Ikorodu, Lagos, where she dismissed criticisms questioning the need for the monthly exercise.
She explained that regular sensitisation was necessary to make environmental cleanliness a consistent habit among residents, likening the initiative to safety instructions routinely given to airline passengers.
“It might seem unnecessary to some people, but the awareness is a continuous exercise. It is just like when you enter the plane; every time you enter the plane, they remind you, whether you are in first class or economy class, to fasten your seat belts and do this and do that.
“So, it is a continuous exercise. There will always be teething problems, but we will overcome them. I think we should continue to create awareness all the time,” she said.
The First Lady urged Lagos residents to maintain clean surroundings throughout the month rather than restricting sanitation activities to the last Saturday of every month.
She encouraged them to extend the practice to their homes, communities, wards, schools and markets.
She expressed satisfaction with the turnout and level of participation in Ikorodu, particularly praising children, environmental sanitation workers and other community stakeholders for their commitment to the exercise.
“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.
“Importantly, we noticed our children; they had been here since 6am. They had been cleaning even before I came. They were here till 8.30am and beyond. The LAWMA staff were also doing their work, and the sweepers were outside. All hands were on deck,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu further challenged residents of Ikorodu to sustain the improved environmental standards and position their local government as the cleanest in the state.
She said all local government areas would participate in the competition, with the government expected to announce the winning council soon.
“My message to them is that they should keep Lagos clean and not only wait till we have our environmental sanitation day, the last Saturday of the month, but make sure that Ikorodu comes first in the competition ahead.
“All the local governments will take part, and they will announce the best or the cleanest environment in Lagos very, very soon,” she added.
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent also acknowledged improvements in waste collection across Ikorodu, expressing optimism about the development.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Tayo, said private sector participation (PSP) waste operators had become more consistent in collecting refuse compared with previous months.
He said, “The waste collection routine in our community has improved. The PSP operators are now visiting regularly compared to some months back, and that is why there’s no much waste heaps littering around.”
Another resident, Wale Akindele, also confirmed the improvement in waste collection, while urging residents and relevant authorities to sustain efforts towards keeping the state clean.
The PUNCH had reported on April 1 that the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced plans to reward local government areas that emerge as the cleanest following the introduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Wahab disclosed during a meeting with chairmen of the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in Alausa that the winning councils would receive cash rewards of up to N10m.
