The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to transfer the enforcement responsibilities of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade to transport unions, insisting that environmental enforcement remains the exclusive responsibility of its statutory agencies.
The government described as misleading and unfounded reports circulating on social media and some online platforms claiming that transport unions would assume the duties of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Adekunle Adeshina, the government clarified that its recent engagement with transport unions was solely aimed at improving environmental sanitation and waste management practices within motor parks, garages and bus stops across the state.
According to Adeshina, the collaboration is intended to encourage transport operators to take greater responsibility for maintaining clean and healthy environments within facilities under their control.
“The State Government’s engagement with transport unions is aimed at fostering collaboration, promoting shared responsibility and ensuring improved cleanliness and proper waste management within their respective parks and garages,” Adeshina said.
He stressed that the initiative should not be misconstrued as an attempt to delegate environmental enforcement responsibilities to any transport union or association.
Adeshina stated that the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps and the Lagos State Special Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences remain the legally empowered agencies responsible for environmental enforcement across the state.
“The Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade, in collaboration with the Lagos State Special Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, remains the duly empowered environmental enforcement arm of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and will not abdicate its responsibilities,” he said.
The government further explained that the partnership with transport unions was conceived as a complementary measure to strengthen compliance with environmental regulations and sanitation standards in transport hubs.
“The new partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force.
“Rather, it should be seen as a complementary initiative designed to strengthen environmental compliance, sanitation standards and stakeholder participation in maintaining a cleaner environment across the state,” Adeshina added.
He noted that several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages and the wider public transportation ecosystem, including indiscriminate refuse disposal and illegal trading activities.
“As we are all aware, several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities,” he said.
The government reassured residents that environmental sanitation remains a key priority of the administration and urged members of the public to disregard reports suggesting otherwise.
Adeshina said the state would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to achieve its vision of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos.
“We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and partners in our collective effort to build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos,” he stated.
The clarification comes amid public reactions to reports alleging that transport unions would be empowered to carry out environmental enforcement duties traditionally performed by KAI officers and the State Task Force.
