The Lagos State Police Command yesterday described the arrest of residents during the Saturday, July 25, 2026 monthly sanitation exercise, and the subsequent comments by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, as the result of a communication lapse.

Residents had complained that they were arrested and intimidated by police officers during the sanitation exercise.

Following the complaints, Wahab said there was no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

He said: “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.”

Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.

“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state. The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

“However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise. Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”

When The Guardian contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, she said:
“There is a communication gap somewhere, and the Command is working with the government for clarity.”