The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports claiming that it has handed over the responsibilities of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, also known as KAI, to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) or authorised them to arrest environmental offenders.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday, describing the claims as misinformation.
The denial comes after reports and social media posts suggested that the government had empowered NURTW members to function as “waste police” or assume KAI’s enforcement duties.
Wahab explained that recent engagements between the government and transport unions in Lagos are not aimed at replacing the statutory role of LAGESC.
He noted that LAGESC, working alongside the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the official body responsible for environmental enforcement in the state.
“As we are all aware, several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages, and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities,” Wahab said.
He added that the engagement with transport unions is intended to promote cooperation, shared responsibility, and improved sanitation in parks and garages.
“This partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer, or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force. Rather, it is a complementary initiative designed to strengthen environmental compliance, sanitation standards, and stakeholder participation in maintaining a cleaner environment across the state,” he stated.
Wahab assured residents that environmental cleanliness remains a priority of the Lagos State Government, adding that efforts will continue to involve stakeholders in building a cleaner and more sustainable state.
“We therefore wish to reassure all Lagosians that environmental cleanliness remains a top priority of the Lagos State Government. We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and partners in our collective effort to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos,” the statement added.