Falana Urges Lagos Residents to Ignore Sanitation Restrictions

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has advised Lagos residents to ignore the movement restrictions announced for the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stating that there is no law supporting compulsory movement restrictions during this period. Falana emphasized that residents should be free to engage in their normal activities, asserting that participation in the sanitation exercise should be voluntary rather than mandatory.

In contrast, the Lagos State Government, represented by Tokunbo Wahab, insists that the sanitation exercise remains valid and will proceed as scheduled, urging residents to stay home and participate from 6:30 to 8:30 AM on Saturdays. Falana criticized the reintroduction of movement restrictions as unconstitutional and reminiscent of military-era policies, arguing that such enforcement infringes on citizens' freedom of movement.

Despite his criticisms, Falana acknowledged the government's ongoing encouragement for voluntary participation in sanitation activities and urged residents to cooperate with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to maintain a clean environment.