In a renewed effort to restore environmental sanity and improve public health standards, the Lagos State Government has joined forces with the Nigerian Navy to embark on a comprehensive clean-up of the Apapa axis, one of the state’s most commercially vital but environmentally challenged areas.
The collaborative exercise, which commenced earlier this week, targets the removal of waste, illegal structures, and environmental nuisances that have contributed to the persistent sanitation crisis in the area. Apapa, home to Nigeria’s busiest ports, has long suffered from congestion, refuse build-up, and infrastructural decay, despite its economic importance.
Speaking during the flag-off of the operation, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the joint initiative was part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader strategy to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more livable Lagos. He stressed that Apapa’s strategic role in the national economy demands sustained environmental attention.
“The clean-up is not just about aesthetics. It is about the health of our people, the efficiency of our businesses, and the image of Lagos as a modern megacity,” Wahab stated. “We are glad to partner with the Nigerian Navy, whose presence in this area is vital to the success and sustainability of this exercise.”
Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who represented the Nigerian Navy during the launch, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to civil-military cooperation in matters that affect national interest and public wellbeing. He noted that the Navy’s bases in Apapa are equally impacted by the environmental situation, hence the institution’s readiness to support the state’s intervention efforts.
The clean-up involves waste evacuation, demolition of shanties, decongestion of drainages, and sensitization campaigns to encourage residents and business operators to take responsibility for their environment.
Residents and port users in Apapa welcomed the initiative, urging that it be maintained consistently rather than as a one-off action. Many expressed hope that the renewed government attention would also bring lasting solutions to traffic gridlocks, illegal parking, and pollution that have plagued the area for years.
Officials say the exercise will continue in phases and expand to other high-traffic and environmentally burdened parts of Lagos. The partnership with the Navy signals a new model of inter-agency cooperation aimed at reclaiming the state’s urban spaces for orderly development.
