Lagos: The traditional ruler of Ikate Kingdom, Lagos State, Oba Saheed Elegushi, has urged the state government to reinstate the previously suspended monthly environmental sanitation initiative to enhance community hygiene and security.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oba Elegushi made this appeal during an event organized by the Oba Saheed Elegushi Foundation in Lagos to commemorate the upcoming World Environment Day. The event, part of the foundation’s Green Mission initiative, focused on the theme ‘Community Clean-Up Initiative’.

The traditional ruler expressed concerns over the increasing neglect of public cleanliness, emphasizing that this disregard was compromising hygiene and weakening neighborhood security across Lagos. He highlighted the benefits of the former monthly sanitation exercise, which took place every last Saturday, noting that it not only promoted cleanliness but also fostered community awareness and security by encouraging residents to know their neighbors.

Oba Elegushi urged the government to consider appealing the judgment that halted the sanitation exercise, pointing out that many Nigerians have since focused solely on maintaining their personal spaces. He called on all Nigerians, not just those in Ikate-Elegushi and Lagos, to take hygiene seriously and participate in cleaning their environment collectively.

The coordinator for the ‘World Environment Day Clean-Up’ initiative, Mr. Temidayo Farinu, emphasized the event’s aim to raise awareness about pollution and involve the community in environmental accountability. He noted that waste management challenges, such as blocked water channels leading to flooding, are prevalent in Lagos.

NAN also reported that approximately 70 volunteers, including members of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), participated in cleaning up the community’s gutters and streets. The project was a collaborative effort with LAWMA and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to ensure its success.