MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL EXERCISE CONFERENCE 57 CHAIRMAN ADVOCATES PUBLIC SENSITIZATION, STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Office of Environmental Services on Tuesday 31st March, 2026 convened a strategic meeting with Conference 57 and the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, to deliberate on modalities for the successful re-introduction and implementation of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise across the State. Speaking on behalf of Conference 57, the Chairman, Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, outlined key strategic takeaways necessary for the success of the exercise. He emphasized three core areas: advocacy and awareness, stakeholder engagement, and waste management re-orientation at the grassroots level. Hon. Olowa highlighted the need to intensify advocacy and public sensitization efforts, particularly through Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), while also engaging critical stakeholders such as market men and women, traditional rulers, and community leaders to drive grassroots participation. He further spoke on operational efficiency, stressing the importance of proper coordination among operators and logistics teams, and reaffirmed the pivotal role of local governments in driving the initiative. According to him, Local Government Secretariat across the State must serve as central coordinating hubs for all State agencies and Local Government monitoring teams to ensure seamless and effective operations. Additionally, the Chairman underscored the necessity for strict and thorough enforcement during the sanitation exercise, noting that compliance and accountability are essential to achieving the desired environmental outcomes. The meeting featured robust discussions on enforcement strategies, public awareness campaigns, inter-agency collaboration, and the deployment of resources required for efficient execution. Participants expressed strong commitment to ensuring that the re-introduced Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise achieves its intended objectives. The Lagos State Government reiterates its unwavering dedication to maintaining a clean, safe, and sustainable environment, while urging all residents to actively participate in the sanitation exercise as a collective civic responsibility.