The Lagos State Government has announced the return of its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which will officially resume on April 25.

The exercise will now hold on the last Saturday of every month between 6:30am and 8:30am. During this period, movement across the state will be restricted to allow residents clean their homes, surroundings, and drainage areas.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources explained that the goal is to ensure proper cleaning of communities while encouraging residents to take responsibility for their environment. He added that the exercise will involve controlled movement during the two-hour window.

The programme had earlier been symbolically launched along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road in March before its full rollout.

The sanitation exercise is making a return nearly 10 years after it was stopped in 2016, following a court decision that limited movement restrictions during such activities.

The government warned that anyone who fails to follow the rules will face penalties. Enforcement will be handled by a joint team made up of officials from environmental agencies, waste management authorities, and local council officers. These teams will inspect communities during and after the exercise to ensure compliance.

Waste collected during the clean-up will also be evacuated by the state waste management agency, which will deploy trucks to clear bagged refuse across the state.

To encourage participation, the government also announced that it will reward the cleanest local councils and streets as part of efforts to promote healthy competition among communities.

Residents have been urged to fully participate and support the initiative, with authorities saying the programme is aimed at improving cleanliness, safety, and environmental health across Lagos.


Lagos introduced environmental sanitation exercises many years ago to improve public hygiene and reduce waste-related issues. However, the programme was suspended in 2016 after legal concerns about movement restrictions during the exercise. The state has now revived it with new rules, enforcement structures, and incentives to encourage wider public participation.