by Hauwa Gambo

Talk about airing your laundry in public!

The environmental warriors at the Lagos government have promised to start seizing clothes spread in open places – a tradition Lagosians have had for ages. These include balcony railings, major highways (seriously though, why do people put their clothes on major highways!), bridges, railings on landscape sites, walkways and others.

This statement was made by the long-standing Lagos environment commissioner, Tunji Bello during an inspection of the state yesterday.

Calling the act “uncivilised”, he said those who continue to indulge in the practise would be prosecured based on the state’s sanitation laws, adding that public buildings, bridges and residential buildings along major highways in the state, with special shout-out to Kingsway and Awolowo roads on the Lagos Island, are often used by citizens to air their laundry.

“Some of the private and government buildings on these routes have been turned into drycleaners’ lines for the spreading of washed clothes along many highways and inner streets,” he said. “This act is also noticeable in areas where we have large concentration of mechanic workshops as well as along drainage alignments.”

Mr. Bello advised that Lagosians should instead spread their clothes in their own houses – and asked landlords to educate tenants and security personnel, amongst others about the matter, adding that “the government would not hesitate to apply the full sanctions of sanitation laws on any culprit.”

You heard the man.