Lagos’ 15 Council Chairmen Step Up Sanitation Drive, Residents Praise Progress and Demand Tougher Penalties

In a decisive bid to enhance public health and environmental aesthetics, fifteen council chairmen in Lagos State have ramped up their sanitation campaigns, intensifying efforts to tackle waste management challenges across their jurisdictions. According to an exclusive investigation by ValidViewNetwork, the councils actively involved include Lagos Island Local Government, Agege, Ojo, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ejigbo LCDA, Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Bariga LCDA, Eti Osa, Lagos Island East LCDA, Anuwo Odofin, Somolu, and Apapa Iganmu LCDA.

These councils have amplified sanitation activities such as refuse clearance, reclaiming public spaces from illegal dumpsites, and upgrading waste disposal systems, yielding visually cleaner neighborhoods and improved community health indices. Residents interviewed lauded the initiatives as transformative, urging these chairmen to sustain momentum and implement stringent penalties on offenders.

The Lagos State Government has backed these moves with rigorous enforcement measures under the Lagos Sanitation Environmental Law, which prescribes fines up to ₦250,000 or imprisonment for up to three months for illegal waste disposal and littering offenses. Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized that over 3,000 environmental offenders have been arrested and prosecuted to date, declaring zero tolerance for environmental violations.

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Despite the progress in several councils, the investigation uncovered that some local governments have lagged in sanitation efforts. ValidViewNetwork hereby issues a stern warning to such councils, pledging to publish detailed documentation, including photographic and video evidence, to expose non-compliance unless immediate corrective actions are taken.

ValidViewNetwork reaffirms its commitment to watchdog journalism, ensuring public officials are accountable for environmental stewardship and that taxpayers receive tangible value. The era of complacency is over as the people of Lagos demand visible action, robust sanitation policies, and enforcement. The network will continue closely monitoring council performances and updating the public accordingly.

This unified effort reflects Lagos State’s broader environmental agenda to eradicate illegal dumping, control waste-related flooding, and foster a culture of cleanliness—a strategic endeavor critical to the state’s sustainable urban development and health protection goals.