Lagos clarifies Sanitation exercise, says controlled movement lawful

The Lagos State Government has moved to correct what it described as misleading interpretations of a Court of Appeal ruling on environmental sanitation, insisting that the exercise remains lawful and backed by existing judicial decisions.

In a statement, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), said the prevailing judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered on November 23, 2021, upheld the legality of the environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos.

According to him, the court ruled that the monthly sanitation programme did not violate the fundamental rights of residents, contrary to claims circulating in sections of the media.

He explained that the case, filed by Ebun Adegboruwa, was decided in favour of the Lagos State Government, with the appellate court affirming that the sanitation exercise was supported by law and did not breach constitutional rights.

Pedro noted that Adegboruwa, dissatisfied with the judgment, proceeded to the Supreme Court, where the matter is still pending. He stressed that until the apex court overturns the 2021 decision, it remains the valid legal position.

He also dismissed reliance on an earlier Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Faith Okafor versus Lagos State Government, delivered in 2019, arguing that it has effectively been overtaken by the 2021 judgment of the same court.

“The subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal supports the conduct of environmental sanitation in Lagos State,” Pedro stated, adding that there is no current court order prohibiting the exercise or restricting the government from managing movement during the exercise.

Addressing concerns over movement restrictions, the Attorney-General clarified that the state has not imposed a total lockdown during sanitation hours but rather introduced a system of controlled movement.

He explained that residents are still free to move around, provided they use roads and streets not directly affected by ongoing cleaning activities.

According to him, temporary restrictions may only apply to specific areas where sanitation work is in progress, primarily to ensure the safety of both residents and officials engaged in the exercise.