Lagos State enforces sanitation, limits transport on Saturdays

The Lagos State Government has announced that commercial vehicles under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) will not operate between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays as part of the reintroduced environmental sanitation exercise.

Officials say the move is part of a “controlled movement” strategy aimed at improving compliance with the monthly clean-up exercise across the state.

The Corps Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Olatunbosun Cole, said the agreement was reached after stakeholders met with transport union leaders.

According to him, commercial drivers will not load or move passengers during the two-hour window, effectively reducing road activity and encouraging residents to stay home and participate in sanitation efforts.

He explained that the restriction applies only to commercial vehicles, while private vehicles are exempt from the arrangement.

Cole said the decision was designed to ensure higher participation in environmental clean-up activities without enforcing a total lockdown.

“Once people don’t see vehicles on the road, definitely, they will be forced to stay at home and do the clean-up exercise,” he said.

He added that essential workers, including medical personnel, would still be allowed to move freely during the period.

Enforcement backed by sanitation law

The official also referenced the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law, which mandates participation in the exercise and allows penalties for non-compliance.

He warned that while no one would be penalised for movement during the period, residents who fail to clean their surroundings or violate sanitation rules could face prosecution.

He said enforcement teams would be deployed alongside waste management officials to monitor compliance across the state.

Cole urged residents to take environmental cleanliness seriously, stressing that sanitation is a shared responsibility.

He added that top government officials, including the head of service and other senior figures, are expected to participate in the exercise as part of efforts to set an example for residents.

The sanitation exercise, which had previously been suspended, is expected to be implemented with periodic adjustments as authorities assess compliance levels.

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