Transport unions in Lagos State have thrown their weight behind the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, pledging full compliance with the state government’s directive.

The unions agreed that no commercial vehicles will pick up passengers between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month, dedicating the period to environmental clean-up activities.

The resolution was reached during a strategic meeting with officials of the Lagos State Government, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.

Representing the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), State Secretary Usman Teslim assured that members across the state would comply fully with the directive. He stated that operators would use the designated hours to clean their homes and surroundings before resuming daily transport activities.

Teslim also disclosed that the union would establish internal task forces to enforce compliance among its members, adding that supporting government policies is part of the union’s operational mandate. He further noted that existing measures such as placing waste bins in public buses would continue to promote proper waste disposal.

Similarly, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), through its leadership, pledged to mobilise its members and affiliated groups to adhere strictly to the sanitation schedule, ensuring that passenger loading only begins after 8:30 a.m. on designated days.

Officials of the Lagos State Government emphasised that the initiative is part of broader efforts to create a cleaner, flood-free, and sustainable environment under the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Commissioner Wahab highlighted the importance of involving transport operators, noting that a significant percentage of Lagos residents depend on public transportation, particularly within the informal sector. He stressed that collective responsibility and cooperation are essential for the success of the initiative.

He also pointed out that similar sanitation exercises are already conducted in markets every Thursday and urged that the culture of environmental cleanliness be extended to residential areas.

In the same vein, Commissioner Osiyemi called on both formal and informal transport operators to take ownership of the initiative, work closely with the government, and educate commuters on proper waste disposal practices to sustain a cleaner Lagos.