For residents, traders, businesses and households in Ogun State, the government’s decision not to bring back the monthly environmental sanitation exercise means there will be no return to the statewide routine of shutting down activities for several hours on a designated sanitation day.

Instead, the state government says it wants cleaner communities to be achieved through more regular waste collection and better waste-management equipment.

The Ogun State Government has ruled out reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, saying the state has moved beyond the system that was scrapped about six years ago.

Governor Dapo Abiodun made the position known while commissioning waste-management equipment, operational vehicles and an office block to mark six months in office of the Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Farouk Akintunde, in Abeokuta.

The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya.

According to the government, environmental sanitation should now be treated as a daily responsibility rather than something concentrated into one day each month.

The administration said it plans to strengthen OGWAMA's ability to collect and dispose of waste by acquiring additional compactors and other waste-management equipment.

The equipment is expected to support the daily collection and proper disposal of waste generated by households, commercial outlets and industrial facilities, working alongside accredited Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

What does this mean for residents?

The immediate implication is that residents should not expect the return of the old monthly sanitation arrangement involving widespread restrictions on movement and commercial activities.

For households, the government's stated approach places greater emphasis on routine waste collection rather than waiting for a designated monthly sanitation day.

Traders and business owners also avoid the disruption that could come from closing businesses for a statewide sanitation exercise.

However, the effectiveness of the approach depends on regular waste collection, proper disposal and cooperation between residents, businesses, waste operators and government agencies.

What the government is saying

The government maintains that Ogun residents have become accustomed to daily sanitation practices and that there is no need to shut down the state for several hours once a month.

The governor also commended residents, Community Development Associations, commercial operators and industrialists for their cooperation in keeping the state clean.

He said the administration would continue providing support and equipment to the Ministry of Environment, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and OGWAMA.

Waste management affects more than the appearance of streets and neighbourhoods.

Households generate waste every day, while markets, shops, factories and other businesses produce additional waste. A system that depends on regular collection therefore requires sufficient equipment, personnel, waste-disposal capacity and cooperation from residents.

Ogun's decision represents a shift away from relying on a particular sanitation day toward a system in which waste management is expected to take place continuously.

The government says additional compactors and equipment will help OGWAMA improve its ability to provide that service.

The policy is particularly relevant to residents who depend on daily movement and business activity.

A statewide sanitation day that requires restrictions can affect traders, transport workers, customers, employees and other people whose income depends on regular economic activity.

At the same time, residents still have a direct role in the success of the government's approach. Regular collection cannot replace responsible waste disposal, and the government has stressed the importance of cooperation from households, businesses and communities.

The Ogun State Government says OGWAMA will receive additional compactors and other waste-management equipment to strengthen daily waste collection.

The government also plans to continue supporting OGWAMA, OGEPA and the Ministry of Environment.

For residents, the confirmed direction is clear: Ogun does not currently plan to restore the former statewide monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Its stated alternative is stronger daily waste management.

Ogun's approach puts the focus on managing waste every day rather than concentrating sanitation efforts around one designated day. The success of that system will depend on the government's ability to provide effective waste services and residents' willingness to use them responsibly.