Tokunbo Wahab has defended the reintroduction of Lagos State’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise, pushing back against criticism from Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who described the move as “unimaginative”.
Wahab said residents are expected to participate in the exercise between 6:30am and 8:30am, framing it as a collective responsibility aimed at maintaining cleanliness across the state.
Responding to concerns about restrictions during the exercise, the commissioner rejected suggestions that it amounts to a shutdown, insisting the initiative is a necessary civic measure rather than a limitation on movement.
He also dismissed claims that the sanitation exercise lacks legal backing, noting that the state government secured a favourable ruling at the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the legality of environmental sanitation laws.
Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, had criticised the policy, questioning its effectiveness and describing it as lacking innovation.
The exchange highlights ongoing debates over public policy approaches to urban sanitation in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, where authorities continue to grapple with waste management and environmental challenges.
