CITIZENS COMPASS— The Council Chairman of Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (IBLCDA), Ikorodu Division in Lagos State, Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), on Saturday, led the sanitation exercise in the area.
Citizens Compass reported that Lagos State Government had asked Lagosians to resume the exercise which was suspended following a court judgement.
A human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, had dragged the state government to court over violation of his fundamental human rights and the judgement came out in his favour.
However, the state government sought an appeal which it won and Lagosians resumed the exercise on Saturday.
In Igbogbo-Baiyeku, the Council Chairman came out to lead by example across all five wards in IBLCDA.
Aroyewun deployed his cabinet across the wards.
The cabinet consists of the Legislative arm, local government officials, sanitation officers, Joint Taskforce (JTF), and representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment among others.
Speaking with newsmen during the exercise, Aroyewun declared zero-tolerance on open defecation and announced a strategic drainage channelisation partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment. He presented the drainage channelization plan as a landmark plan that will improve the council’s environmental outlook.
“We will treat our environment with all sense of seriousness and care for a greener and better Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA,” Aroyewun stated.
The chairman thanked residents for their enthusiastic turnout and emphasized that community ownership remains the cornerstone of sustainable environmental governance.
Meanwhile, Hon. Dauda Oshinlaja, Supervisor for Environment and Waste Management, who anchored the administration’s technical response, expressed gratitude to the people and all officials who provided multi-level support across the LCDA.
We thank God for making this day a reality. We appreciate Mr. Governor for reintroducing the monthly sanitation exercise, and we thank our principal, Chairman Aroyewun, for the love and true leadership to push this drive,” Oshinlaja said.
He acknowledged this was the first edition of the revived program and committed the Environmental Department to “improving very well in mobilization and time punctuality” for subsequent exercises.
He delivered a direct appeal to residents: “Kindly adhere to the sanitation exercise requirements so we can have a better, cleaner, and greener IBLCDA, which is a priority for the HOA-led administration.”
Rather than concentrating leadership in one location, the administration deployed a split-squad approach: Chairman Aroyewun and Council Leader Banjoko led Ward C1 operations, while Deputy Leader Solawon C2, Councilor Saidat Odeyemi C3, and other legislators each commanded teams in their respective wards, supported by NULGE officials and state environment ministry personnel.
This decentralized model, unique among Lagos LCDAs—ensured simultaneous coverage of all five wards, eliminated leadership vacuum, and leveraged councilors’ community credibility to drive turnout.
The Aroyewun administration is committed to:
– Monthly replication of today’s exercise with enhanced punctuality
– Drainage channelization works in partnership with the Ministry of Environment
– Legislative backing for ward-level sanitation committees and enforcement mechanisms
– Sustained sensitization on open defecation eradication.
