After heeding to various cries and criticisms of the age-long environmental cleaning exercise, Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos state Governor has forthwith abolished the monthly exercise.
In a statement by Babatunde Adejare, the state’s commissioner for environment, the governor decided to remove all restrictions because the state is a mega city and cannot be shut down for three hours all in the name of a cleaning exercise.
Lagosians from all sectors of the economy have criticised the environmental exercise as counter-productive and an anachronistic way of cleaning up a modern city like Lagos. Critics believe that the practice was introduced by past military government to ‘whip people in line’.
The environmental sanitation, usually takes place every last Saturday of the month. During the exercise, all vehicular, movements in and out of the city and state are restricted from 7 am to 10 am. The eventual cancellation will boost business activities, social engagements and increase productivity in the state.
