Falana Critiques Lagos Sanitation Movement Restrictions

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has criticized the Lagos State Government's decision to reintroduce monthly environmental sanitation exercises that impose a three-hour movement restriction every last Saturday of the month. He described the policy as regrettable and a remnant of Nigeria's military past.

In his statement issued on Sunday, Falana highlighted that the 2026 budget allocates N236 billion for environmental matters, including urban waste management, and suggested that the government should focus on improving waste management systems rather than restricting residents' movements. He referenced the legal precedent set in the case of Faith Okafor v.

Lagos State Government, where the court ruled that such movement restrictions during sanitation hours were unconstitutional. The court found that the governor's directives do not constitute law and cannot justify the arrest or prosecution of citizens.

Falana urged the Lagos State Government to abandon its plan, warning that it undermines the rule of law and could lead to autocratic governance.