By BONIFACE AKARAH

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has criticised the Lagos State Government over the restriction of movement during monthly environmental sanitation, describing the directive as illegal and unconstitutional.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Adegboruwa said residents of Lagos State were “forcefully” confined to their homes under the guise of enforcing sanitation rules, with authorities deploying security agencies and other personnel to ensure compliance.

“Lagosians were forced to stay in their homes… in forceful enforcement of this illegal policy,” he said, alleging that officials, including traffic managers and local enforcers, were used to “harass, intimidate and threaten innocent citizens.”

The senior lawyer challenged the legal basis of the restriction, insisting that no extant law permits the state to limit citizens’ movement for sanitation purposes.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is currently no law in force in Lagos State which permits the government to restrict movement of persons for the purpose of enforcing monthly environmental sanitation,” he stated.

Adegboruwa further urged the government to make public any legislation it claims to rely on.

“I challenge Lagos State Government to publish such a law, if at all it exists,” he said.

He argued that enforcing compliance through coercion contradicts democratic norms, especially in a major urban centre.

“In a mega city like Lagos, we do not need to force citizens indoors… It is archaic and not in tandem with global best practices,” he added.

The lawyer also criticised the state’s environmental management record, saying the government should focus on improving waste disposal systems and basic services rather than imposing restrictions.

According to him, “a government voted into power by the people should not turn around to deploy brute force… and keep them indoors against their wish.”

Adegboruwa maintained that the directive compelling residents to remain indoors on the last Saturday of every month is “plainly illegal and unconstitutional,” insisting that no citizen should face penalties for disregarding it.

The Lagos State Government has yet to respond to the claims as of the time of filing this report.

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