Resuming regular monthly cleanup efforts in Lagos State is an insult, says Falana

The Lagos State Government's decision to bring back the monthly sanitation exercise, which restricts the movement of residents for 3 hours on the last Saturday of every month, is a stark reminder of the outdated practices of Nigeria's former military regime, according to Femi Falana, SAN.

This move is particularly puzzling given that the 2026 Appropriation Law of Lagos allocated N236 billion for environmental purposes, including urban waste management and sanitation, suggesting that more modern and effective methods could be employed.

The Lagos State House of Assembly had unanimously voted in favor of adopting better waste management techniques, making the reintroduction of the sanitation exercise seem like a step backwards.

Rather than wasting time and resources on enforcing this outdated practice, the Lagos State Government should consider hiring more cleaners and investing in mechanical sweepers and vacuum sweepers to tackle debris and litter.

A notable case that draws attention to the issue is Faith Okafor v Lagos State Government (2016) 48 E-WRN / 104 (CA), in which the appellant was arrested on May 25, 2013, for violating the movement restriction during the environmental sanitation exercise.

After being arrested, Faith Okafor was taken to court, where she pleaded guilty and was fined N2,000.00 for wandering and loitering during the restricted hours.

Okafor subsequently filed a lawsuit at the High Court of Lagos State to enforce her fundamental rights, including her dignity as a human person, personal liberty, and freedom of movement, but the court dismissed her application.

Undeterred, Okafor appealed to the Court of Appeal, which ultimately ruled in her favor, declaring that the restriction of movement during environmental sanitation hours is both illegal and unconstitutional.

The Court of Appeal also emphasized that a governor's directive does not constitute a law, and therefore, Okafor's arrest, prosecution, and conviction were a violation of her fundamental rights.

In the leading judgment, Biobell Abraham Georgewill J.C.A. expressed his view that democracy relies on upholding the rule of law, rather than succumbing to the whims of leaders, and that the Lagos State Government's actions against Okafor constituted a form of persecution.

Georgewill J.C.A. further stated that allowing such actions to go unchecked could grant leaders infinite and autocratic powers, contrary to the Constitution, and that he refused to let such a situation undermine Nigeria's democracy.

The Lagos State Government's plan to reintroduce the monthly sanitation exercise is highly contemptuous of the Court of Appeal's ruling and should be reconsidered.