By Our Correspondent

National News – Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the Lagos State Government’s plan to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which restricts residents’ movement for three hours on the last Saturday of every month.

Falana described the policy as unconstitutional and a throwback to Nigeria’s military era, calling it “illegal, contemptuous, and incompatible with democratic governance.”

Falana argued that the exercise is unjustifiable given Lagos State’s substantial budget allocation for environmental management.

The 2026 Appropriation Law earmarked ₦236 billion for urban waste management, sanitation, and environmental protection.

He emphasized that the state legislature supports improved waste management strategies rather than enforcing movement restrictions.

The senior advocate urged the government to invest in mechanical sweepers, vacuum cleaners, and additional sanitation personnel instead of imposing what he described as a regressive measure.

Falana cited the landmark Court of Appeal ruling in Faith Okafor v. Lagos State Government (2016), where the court declared that restricting citizens’ movement under executive directives violates constitutional rights.

In that case, Okafor was arrested for walking during the sanitation period and later won an appeal affirming her rights to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement.

The appellate court clarified that a governor’s directive cannot replace statutory law, warning against “absolute and autocratic powers” being conferred on public officials.

He concluded by urging Lagos State authorities to abandon the plan, stating that reinstating the exercise would disregard court rulings and undermine democratic principles.

Falana reaffirmed that investing in modern waste management infrastructure would be more effective than punitive movement restrictions, aligning with international best practices for urban sanitation.