Adegboruwa Faults Lagos Sanitation Exercise, Describes Movement Restrictions as Illegal
A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa (SAN), has criticised the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise by the Lagos State Government, describing any attempt to restrict movement as unlawful and unconstitutional.
In a statement he personally e-signed on Saturday, titled “Environmental Sanitation Does Not Require Force or Compulsion or Movement Restrictions,” Adegboruwa reacted to the exercise, which resumed across the state.
He argued that there is currently no law in force in Lagos State that empowers the government to restrict the movement of residents for the purpose of environmental sanitation.
According to him, the state government is deploying what he described as “brute force” and abusing its powers to compel residents to remain indoors.
“In a mega city like Lagos, we don’t need to force citizens indoors for two hours in the name of sanitation. It is archaic and anachronistic,” he stated.
The senior advocate further maintained that it is unconstitutional for a democratically elected government to impose policies on citizens through coercion.
He challenged the state government to produce any existing law backing the restriction of movement during sanitation exercises, insisting that none exists.
“There is no such law. Government is acting illegally and unconstitutionally,” Adegboruwa declared.
The Lagos State Government had earlier reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, urging residents to actively participate in maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.
