The Lagos government has dismissed claims that transport unions are being empowered to take over the environmental enforcement duties of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, also known as KAI.

The commissioner for the environment and water resources, Tokunbo Wahab, clarified in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the recent engagement between the state government and transport unions aimed to strengthen environmental compliance in parks, garages, and other transport facilities across the state.

According to him, LAGESC, working in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the legally empowered environmental enforcement agency under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

Mr Wahab said the initiative was designed to promote collaboration and shared responsibility among stakeholders in addressing sanitation challenges in the transportation sector.

“Several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities.

“The engagement with transport unions is intended to promote cleanliness and proper waste management in their respective parks and garages, not to transfer enforcement responsibilities to them,” he said.

The commissioner said the partnership would complement, rather than replace, the statutory duties of environmental enforcement agencies in the state.

He added that the collaboration would strengthen sanitation standards, improve stakeholder participation and enhance compliance with environmental regulations.

Mr Wahab reassured residents that environmental cleanliness remained a priority of the state government.

“We 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,” he said.

The clarification followed reactions to reports suggesting that transport unions had been granted authority to enforce environmental regulations in the state.

Lagos continues to grapple with environmental challenges associated with rapid urbanisation, population growth and increased commercial activities.

To address these challenges, the state government has intensified environmental enforcement, waste management reforms and public sensitisation campaigns through agencies such as LAGESC and the Environmental and Special Offences Task Force.

The government has also strengthened partnerships with community groups, market associations, private sector operators and transport unions to improve sanitation, curb indiscriminate waste disposal and promote environmental sustainability across the state.

(NAN)