Lagos Secures Transport Unions' Backing for Monthly Sanitation Exercise

The Lagos State Government has secured the commitment of major transport unions to enforce the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, with commercial operators agreeing to suspend services during designated hours.

Following a meeting between the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and key transport stakeholders, union leaders pledged that no commercial vehicle would carry passengers between 6:30am and 8:30am on the last Saturday of each month.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the cooperation of transport operators was critical, noting that over 70 per cent of Lagos residents rely on informal transport for their daily movements.

"If we all agree that we want a cleaner Lagos, then we must cooperate to ensure the success of this exercise," Wahab stated.

The commissioner also reminded residents that a similar sanitation exercise takes place at markets across the state every Thursday from 7am to 10am. He urged transport leaders to educate commuters on the dangers of indiscriminate waste dumping on roads, medians, drainages, and canals.

State Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Usman Teslim, assured the government of full compliance, adding that task forces would be established across union units to monitor adherence.

Similarly, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), represented by Deputy State Secretary Kaojue Abolaji, said the association would mobilise all members and affiliates to ensure vehicles only resume operations after 8:30am on sanitation days.