- Open Defecation: Lagos Government Arrests 275 Offenders Across State
- 70 offenders were apprehended on Lagos Island, while 62 others were arrested around the Berger axis
- Says government has provided more than 8,710 functional public toilets across Lagos
The Lagos State Government has arrested no fewer than 275 residents across different parts of the state for defecating in public places despite the availability of thousands of public toilets.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during an interview on Wednesday, noting that the arrests were made between January 1 and the time the report was filed on Thursday.
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According to him, about 70 offenders were apprehended on Lagos Island, while 62 others were arrested around the Berger axis. Another 43 individuals were also caught engaging in open defecation in Oshodi.
Wahab expressed concern over the persistent practice, stressing that open defecation remains illegal in the state.
He explained that the government has provided more than 8,710 functional public toilets across Lagos, adding that the number rises to over 35,000 when facilities in eateries, petrol stations and gas stations are included.
According to him, Lagos law requires every eatery to provide toilet facilities for customers, while similar provisions exist for fuel stations.
Wahab noted that despite these efforts, some residents continue to engage in unhygienic behaviour, making strict enforcement necessary.
To curb the practice, he said the state has established an open defecation task force that patrols various parts of Lagos daily.
The task force, he added, operates during early morning hours including 3 a.m., 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., during which offenders are apprehended and prosecuted.
In 2024, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency also launched a joint media campaign to discourage open defecation along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, particularly between OPIC Plaza and Otedola Bridge.
The initiative aimed to improve sanitation and public health while enhancing the appearance of the busy highway, which serves as a major gateway into Lagos.
A 2022 report by UNICEF highlighted the health dangers of poor sanitation, noting that open defecation contaminates rivers, soil and underground water sources.
The report added that more than 100,000 Nigerian children under the age of five die annually from diarrhoea, with about 90 per cent of the cases linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation.
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