Ambode Cancels Monthly Environmental Sanitation In Lagos

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has cancelled the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Steve Ayorinde, the government said the decision to cancel the exercise followed a resolution adopted at the State Executive Council meeting.

According to the government, the exercise, which used to hold for three hours on the last Saturday of every month with restriction on movement, was halted to give room for  much-needed reform.

No more restriction of movement

He said the members of the executive agreed that it was no longer appropriate to restrict movement of people for three hours in a megacity like Lagos at a time they should be pursuing commercial activities.

“Lagos has grown exponentially with the attendant environmental problems associated with managing 20 million people.

”The environmental laws and procedures being practised in the state have not been able to match the growth and the dream of a 24-hour economy,” he said.

Ayorinde further noted that the government was also aware of a recent Court of Appeal judgment, which made restriction on movement during the monthly sanitation illegal.

Due to economic climate

“After a careful consideration, the State Executive Council has therefore resolved that the present economic climate can no longer support the continued lock down of a megacity like Lagos, hence the need for the reform

“Furthermore, Government will also accelerate the introduction of fresh reforms through the passage of new harmonised environmental laws that will drive meaningful changes in areas of harmonised billing, waste management, modern landfill sites, noise pollution, introduction of an environmental trust fund and an environmental advisory council.”

“Lagosians and visitors alike are therefore urged to embrace these changes and imbibe a culture of voluntarily maintaining and preserving their environment to create a beautiful and healthy city that we all can be proud of,” Ayorinde added.