Taskforce detains 50 in Lagos sanitation crackdown

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has detained 50 suspected hoodlums during a statewide enforcement operation on environmental sanitation compliance.

The chairman, Mr Adetayo Akerele, confirmed this in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Mr Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, on Sunday in Lagos.

Akerele said the taskforce supervised activities across several hotspots known for recurring environmental violations.

“Areas covered included Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, Agege, Iyana-Oworo, Lagos Island, Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Ijora Causeway, Ijora Underbridge and Iddo,” he said.

He noted significant compliance with restrictions on vehicular movement and commercial activities, though some residents failed to participate actively.

In a related development, the taskforce apprehended 50 individuals along the Lekki–Epe Expressway for allegedly disturbing public peace during the sanitation period.

“Some suspects were implicated in acts threatening public infrastructure, including billboards and road signage.

“All suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” he said.

Akerele said the monthly sanitation exercise targeted indiscriminate waste disposal, open defecation, street trading and other environmental infractions.

He reiterated that violators would be prosecuted under the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law, 2017.

He stressed that consistent enforcement and public cooperation remained key to achieving lasting environmental order.

The chairman urged youths to avoid street football during sanitation hours and participate in keeping communities clean.

He reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance stance, noting sustained compliance was essential to making Lagos safer, cleaner and more liveable.