Kunle ADELABU
Residents clearing the drainage during the sanitation exercise
The plan of the Lagos State Government under the new administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation exercise has generated mixed reactions from residents in Ikorodu.
The governor, on his first day in office, declared a state of emergency on the environment as he signed the first executive order on refuse management, traffic management and public works.
Participants on THE IMPACT WhatsApp Chat platform joined the debate on during the week, as some of them welcomed the idea while others opposed it.
Some of the participants also queried if the government has provided enabling environmental law to negate the ruling of the Court of Appeal that declared the exercise illegal in 2016 due to absence of any written law that states that residents must stay at home during the exercise.
To show its seriousness in tackling the environmental challenges, especially the filth that has pervaded the city in recent times , the State Government is now sampling the opinions of Lagosians to ascertain their support or otherwise for the reintroduction of the sanitation exercise.
As at that Monday, June 5, 79% respondents on the state government’s Facebook page had given their nod to the government’s plan to bring back the exercise, while 21% was opposed to the move .
The Environmental sanitation exercise was introduced in 1983 during the regime of the present civilian President, Gen. Muhammudu Buhari, as military Head of State. Since then, successive governments in Lagos and other states have continued to sustain the exercise until the ruling of the Justices of the Court of Appeal which declared the exercise as illegal in 2016.
In an appeal against a High Court ruling instituted by a resident, Faith Okafor, the court said there was no written law to the effect that residents must stay at home during the monthly exercise.
Therefore, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, ordered that due to the absence of any written law, the directive of the governor on restriction of movement is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.
According to the appellate court, the Lagos state government and its affiliates do not have the right to arrest anyone on the basis of a purported environmental sanitation offence.
The ruling of the Court prompted the cancellation of the exercise by the immediate past governor following a resolution arrived at at the Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, which approved the need for a review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state so as to achieve a cleaner Lagos.
The court also stated that the government also does not have the power to try anyone for offences in special court without conforming to the dictates of the constitution.
Tayo Odesanya, a Public commentator and journalist, speaking on the planned reintroduction of the sanitation exercise, welcomed the idea which he described as a way to go in cleaning the state of filth.
“Sanest way to toe, three hours of wholesome cleaning on a monthly basis shouldn’t generate any controversy.
“The filthy attitude of the past administration has cost us unquantifiably”, he stated while condemning the Ambode administration for allowing indiscriminate refuse dump across the councils in the state.
Femi Adinlewa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary in Ikorodu, also lent his support for the move and added that the government must also ensure that Community Development Associations (CDAs) are not allowed to use the environmental period for meetings”.
“ Yes, I will support the return of the sanitation but some communities used that day for their monthly meetings instead of the sanitation”, he stated
“The preference of the CDAs in using that period for meetings instead of engaging in sanitation activities caused the defeat of the programme before it was cancelled”, Adinlewa stated.
Biliamin Olalekan, a Journalist and politician, in his own contribution, called for the amendment of the environmental laws to prevent another resident from challenging the reintroduction in Court.
“We must amend necessary laws to address this lacuna. There’s a judgment restricting state governors from making sanitation mandatory”.
Toheeb Olayinka, in his own contribution, opposed the reintroduction of the sanitation exercise.
He argued that the practice is not only illegal but archaic while also suggesting that the government should build LAWMA’s capacity to tackle environmental challenges.
“I wouldn’t support the return of sanitation hours because it does not only amount to deprivation of freedom of movement but also it is an archaic practice. I don’t think that at this level, we should be looking back, rather we should make Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to be more active and equally deploy technologies as it is the case in saner climes.
“Restriction of movement in a mega city for just an hour may be implicative on businesses. With strong political will, the government can get sanitation done in Lagos without any hour(s) set aside for such. We can do better with technology.
“The return of more active LAWMA with sophisticated equipment and extended operation hours will clean the mess on all sides”, Toheeb added.
An Economist and politician, Mr Olaoluwa Godwin, in his own contribution, also called on the government to ensure that the order is vacated before bringing back the exercise.
“I remember the case against restriction of movement for environmental sanitation has been challenged in court against the state government. The court pronouncement made it illegal and the state has not appealed the ruling till now.
“Returning to the process without a court pronouncement may be illegal in my opinion. Why not return to court and challenge it then”, he queried.
Mr Monday Obadan, a Community developer and social media commentator, in his submission, endorsed the proposed reintroduction of the exercise.
He also corroborated Adinlewa’s fear that CDAs usually used the day to hold meetings.
“Endorsed!” Obadan stated wholeheartedly while welcoming the proposed reintroduction of the sanitation exercise.
“The sanitation day’s partial restriction of movement served a dual purpose when it was in force; it helped various CDAs to hold monthly meetings and also helped households to do comprehensive cleanup of the environment when heads of households attend CDA meetings”.
Comrade Semiu Akinlawon Fasasi, the Chairman, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), LASPOTECH chapter, also lent his support to the reintroduction of the sanitation exercise.
“The return of the Environmental Sanitation will rejuvenate the consciousness of Lagosians that a cleaner Lagos is KEY! Cleaniness they say is next to Godliness! Its return will also put the LAWMA in a very serious corner to take the bull by the horns because, as a matter of fact, it will be made compulsory that all refuses generated from the exercise ‘MUST’ be carted away same day!.
“We haven’t gotten to that level of reasonability such that the Government will leave the cleanliness of the environment to the free will of Lagosians, especially when we consider the fact that as at date, a good number still disobey restrictions on BRT Lanes!”.
