Lagos Arrests 46 in Crackdown on Open Defecation Amid Public Health Concerns

The Lagos State Government has arrested 46 individuals for engaging in open defecation during early morning enforcement operations across Lagos Island, highlighting the state’s intensified efforts to maintain public hygiene and environmental safety.

The arrests, conducted by the Anti-Open Defecation Squad between February 20 and 22, targeted known blackspots including Ebute Ero, Apongbon, Isale Eko, Marina, CMS, Obalende, and Adeniji Adele.

Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director and CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), confirmed that 20 people were apprehended on February 20, followed by 15 on February 21, and 11 more on February 22. All suspects, comprising both men and women, were taken to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) headquarters in Oshodi for further investigation and prosecution under Lagos State environmental laws.

“The exercise aims to curb habitual open defecation, protect public health, and maintain a cleaner, safer Lagos,” Gbadegesin said. He emphasized that open defecation poses severe health risks and violates state environmental regulations, particularly in densely populated commercial areas.

Residents and business owners have been urged to utilize approved public toilets and refrain from practices that could undermine the state’s ongoing sanitation initiatives. LAWMA describes the crackdown as part of a broader strategy to enforce hygiene compliance and improve environmental safety across Lagos.

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