NURTW, RTEAN to halt operation during monthly environmental sanitation
The Lagos State Government has secured the backing of key transport unions for its renewed environmental sanitation initiative, with operators agreeing to suspend loading activities during monthly cleanup hours.
The commitment was reached on Wednesday at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting involving officials of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Ministry of Transportation, alongside leaders of major transport unions in the state.
Under the agreement, commercial vehicles will not load passengers at parks and garages between 6:30am and 8:30am on the last Saturday of every month, a move aimed at ensuring residents actively participate in environmental sanitation.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), represented by its State Secretary, Comrade Usman Teslim, pledged full compliance, noting that members across the state would dedicate the sanitation window to cleaning their homes and immediate surroundings.
Teslim also disclosed that enforcement task forces would be set up within the union’s structure to ensure adherence, stressing that the decision aligns with the union’s obligation to support government policies in areas where it operates.
Similarly, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), through its Deputy State Secretary, Comrade Kaojue Abolaji, assured that its members would comply with the directive, adding that vehicles under the union would only commence passenger operations after the stipulated sanitation hours.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, underscored the importance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.
He noted that a significant proportion of Lagos residents depend on public transportation, with the informal sector accounting for over 70 per cent of operators, making their cooperation critical to the success of the initiative.
“The present administration is committed to achieving a cleaner, flood-free and sustainable environment, and this can only be realised with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially transport operators who play a central role in daily mobility across the state,” Kunle Adeshina, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, quoted the Commissioner as saying.
Wahab added that the sanitation culture already being observed in markets across the state every Thursday should be replicated in homes and communities.
“If we all agree that Lagos must be cleaner and more liveable, then collective responsibility and strict adherence to sanitation practices are non-negotiable,” Adeshina quoted him as saying.
He further urged transport unions to sensitise commuters on proper waste disposal and discourage the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads, medians, drainages and canals.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, called on both formal and informal transport operators to take ownership of the initiative and ensure total compliance.
“This is a collective responsibility. We urge transport stakeholders to not only comply but also champion the cause of good sanitation practices across their networks,” Adeshina quoted Osiyemi as saying.
Osiyemi emphasised that sustained collaboration between government and transport stakeholders would be crucial in maintaining environmental standards and improving public health outcomes.
The meeting also featured key government officials, including the Special Adviser on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Chairman of the Task Force on Special and Environmental Offences, CSP Adetayo Akerele; and representatives of agencies such as LAMATA, LASTMA, Lagos State Parking Authority, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Ferry Services, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
“The government will continue to engage stakeholders across sectors to ensure that environmental sustainability initiatives are effectively implemented for the benefit of all residents,” Adeshina added.
The renewed sanitation exercise is part of the state government’s broader strategy to promote environmental responsibility, reduce flooding risks, and improve the overall quality of life in Lagos.
