ADEGBORUWA Kicks, as Lagos APC Welcomes Reintroduction of Monthly Sanitation Exercise

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State has welcomed the reintroduction of month environmental sanitation exercise by the state government, with effect from the last Saturday in the month of April. The Lagos APC describes the move as a clear demonstration of clear demonstration of responsible and responsive governance aimed at safeguarding public health, promoting environmental cleanliness, and strengthening community participation in maintaining a livable city. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, SEYE OLADEJO, the Lagos APC said Lagos, as one of Africa’s most vibrant and rapidly growing megacities, required collective commitment to environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, has asked the Lagos State Government to suspend the planned resumption of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. ADEGBORUWA reminded the Lagos State government monthly sanitation exercise was halted by the Federal High Court in 2015, adding that since the case was still in court, the state government cannot proceed with the proposed resumption of the cleanup exercise. In a statement, ADEGBORUWA recalled that he had filed a Motion on Notice at the Supreme Court on July 22, 2024, seeking an order of injunction to restrain Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU and the other respondents from taking steps to restrict his movement and that of other residents of Lagos State for the purpose of observing any environmental exercise. According to the statement, ADEGBORUWA is also seeking an order restraining the respondents from arresting and detaining him and other residents of Lagos State on the last Saturday or any other day of every month whatsoever, for the purpose of enforcing compliance with the environmental sanitation policy of Lagos State pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal pending before the Supreme Court. Fifteen grounds were listed in support of the application signed by Oluwatosin Adesioye, Esq., Deputy Head of Chambers (Litigation) of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN & Co. Recently, there has been news of the planned resumption of the monthly environmental sanitation policy of Lagos State, even though Governor Sanwoolu maintained that it will be through voluntary participation. On March 16, 2015, the Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by the Honourable Justice M.B. Idris (as he then was) struck down the environmental sanitation programme of Lagos State and further restrained the Inspector-General of Police and all police officers from enforcing the said policy through indiscriminate arrest of citizens for non-compliance. Although the Lagos State Government appealed against the judgment, it nonetheless abolished the unpopular policy.