Nevertheless, this Newspaper believes that as much as the loftiness and the necessity of the policy are quite appreciative, it is important for it to be rooted in the appropriate legal framework that will validate the restriction of movement
The recent decision by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Hon. Justice Mohammed nullifying the Lagos state government’s policy on restriction of movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise has continued to attract polarized comments from different quarters even as it has exposed the legal inadequacies of the policy.
According to the judgment, the restriction policy is illegal and grossly violates Nigerians’ right to freedom of movement as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, there is no doubt that the news of Justice Idris’ decision must have come as a shocker to many, not just in Lagos but all over the country. The reason is that nobody had ever thought of his or her fundamental rights being infringed upon by the restriction as people’s psyche have, over time, been conditioned with the culture of remaining at home during those 3 hours of the exercise (7am-10am) on the environmental sanitation day cleaning their surroundings. But it has taken the petition filled by Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who was aggrieved after being arrested for violating the restriction policy to expose its illegality.
Be that as it may, it appears that the judge’s verdict is quite reasonable given the democratic norms in which we operate and the special place that the 1999 constitution has placed fundamental human rights. However it must also be emphasized that the reasons for the policy are understandable, considering that most Nigerians, fundamentally, are known to lack maintenance culture as they need to be persuaded to do things that will, ultimately, be of benefit to them and the society.
Undoubtedly, the compulsory monthly environmental sanitation in Lagos is to engender a reorientation of the culture of cleanliness and maintenance. The truth is that without the restriction of movement, people will not be eager to participate in the exercise, which is meant to keep the environment clean. In fact, most Nigerians, especially in Lagos, are found living in dirty environments without giving a hoot about whether they are clean or not.
Nevertheless, this Newspaper believes that as much as the loftiness and the necessity of the policy are quite appreciative, it is important for it to be rooted in the appropriate legal framework that will validate the restriction of movement. Therefore as the elections are about to be held in few days, we call on the next legislators to make it a point of duty to sponsor a bill that will enable the validation and institutionalization of the restriction policy on environmental day.
