|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: Social media users claim that the Lagos State Environment and Water Resources Ministry has re-introduced monthly sanitation exercises.
Verdict: MISLEADING. Though the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, flagged off a sanitation project, it is not a monthly exercise that requires an environmental shutdown. Also, the ministry debunked the claim, stating that the governor’s statement revealed the state’s plan to start a weekly community-based sensitisation and awareness exercise involving all residents.
Full Text
Cholera’s recent outbreak in Nigeria threatens residents’ health and well-being, subjecting victims to physical agony and financial expenses amidst the country’s economic crisis. The situation is worse in Lagos State, which is considered the nation’s economic capital. As of June 23, 2024, Lagos State accounts for over 34% of the 1,579 cases of cholera recorded in 32 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The state has earmarked strategic measures to alleviate the situation, including adopting an inter-agency collaboration.
Different Facebook accounts have recently shared that the state will commence the monthly environmental sanitation exercise that may restrict human movement and activities by the end of July 2024. A report published by Daily Trust said that the state re-introduced the exercise about seven years after the Akinwumi Ambode-led administration cancelled the practice in November 2016. As of July 18, 2024, the post has gained 273 reactions, 11 comments, and 22 reshares on the newspaper’s verified Facebook page. It was also found here, here, and here.
Most comments indicated criticism of the alleged directives, as the initial ground for the exercise’s suspension in 2016 was to avoid impeding the megacity’s economic activities.
The reactions we observed in the comments prompted DUBAWA to fact-check the claim.
Verification
We found the footage of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise flag-off on the state government’s Facebook page. The footage, lasting for 50.51 minutes, recorded the speeches of Mr Sanwo-Olu and the commissioner heading the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
As of 12.11 minutes, the ceremonial head welcomed attendants to the event, saying, “I welcome you all to the flag-off of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise awareness programme.”
However, neither the commissioner nor the governor mentioned when the exercise would begin. DUBAWA discovered that the event was an awareness programme without a commencement date.
Mr Wahab also released a statement last Saturday allaying fears of restriction in July, stating that the viral information is the work of mischief makers. The statement on his X account revealed that the governor simply announced his intention to be actively involved in community-based sensitisation every week. DUBAWA confirmed this information after watching the video.
Conclusion
The state has yet to commence the environmental sanitation exercise, and residents will not be restricted from moving about their daily activities. The claim is misleading.
