The Lagos State Government has arraigned and sentenced 17 environmental offenders who were caught urinating and defecating in public spaces, in what authorities describe as a decisive step toward maintaining sanitation and public health in Africa's largest city.
The defendants appeared before a Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, on Wednesday, where they were found guilty of violating state environmental sanitation laws .
The Verdict
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, confirmed the development in a statement on his official X account, revealing that each offender was sentenced to one month imprisonment or given the option of a ₦40,000 fine .
"Today, 17 environmental offenders apprehended by LAWMA operatives were arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, for urinating and defecating in public places," Wahab said. "The court found the defendants guilty and sentenced each offender to pay a fine of ₦40,000 or serve one month imprisonment" .
The commissioner emphasised that the ruling should serve as a deterrent to residents who continue to engage in such acts, describing open urination and defecation as "environmental offences and serious public health risks" .
"Lagos State will continue to enforce sanitation laws firmly to protect public health, preserve human dignity and maintain order in our communities," Wahab added .
A Persistent Challenge
The prosecution comes amid growing concerns over widespread open defecation along major transport corridors in Lagos. A recent investigation along the Mile 2–Badagry expressway revealed that the highway median, meant to serve as a safety barrier and green separation, has become an informal toilet for thousands of commuters and homeless individuals .
The situation has turned areas like Okokomaiko, Iyana-Iba, and Mile 2 into foul-smelling zones where residents and travellers alike must contend with offensive odours, swarms of flies, and visible human waste dotting the landscape.
"It is very pathetic," said Taiwo A., a roadside trader at Volks bus stop. "Every morning, you will see fresh faeces on the median. People go there before daybreak. Some even do it in broad daylight because nobody cares" .
Commuters plying the route daily have expressed frustration at the conditions. "You cannot stay at the bus stop for five minutes without perceiving something terrible," complained Ebuka Nwankwo, who travels from Okokomaiko to Mile 2 daily. "Sometimes, the smell is so strong that your eyes will tear up" .
Broader Enforcement Efforts
Wednesday's court action is part of a wider crackdown on environmental violations across Lagos State. Just one day earlier, the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LASWAMO) sealed a public toilet on Savage Street, Ebute Metta, for allegedly discharging untreated sewage into a public drain . Officials confirmed that residents had complained of strong odours and visible sewage flow along the community drainage line .
Similarly, in January 2026, the government sealed a residential estate in Lekki Phase 1 over repeated violations of environmental regulations, including poor sewage management and indiscriminate discharge of untreated wastewater . The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) had issued several warnings before taking enforcement action .
The government has also deployed an Anti-Open Defecation Squad to conduct early morning patrols in areas like Ebute Ero, Lagos Island, where several individuals—including a woman—were recently arrested for public defecation .
The Root Causes
Despite these enforcement efforts, sanitation advocates argue that arrests alone cannot solve the problem. A significant portion of those engaging in open defecation along major corridors are homeless youths, displaced persons, and casual labourers working at construction sites who have no access to sanitation facilities .
"For them, defecating behind trucks, near rail tracks, or in bushy corners is a matter of survival, not choice," noted a recent investigation. Many sleep under bridges or on bare pavements at night, with no access to toilets .
Private operators sometimes run makeshift toilets, but the cost—ranging from ₦50 to ₦100 per use—places them beyond the reach of those with little or no income .
A Shared Responsibility
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has urged residents to take responsibility for their environment by using available public sanitation facilities and complying with environmental regulations .
"Cleanliness is a shared responsibility," the agency stated, reaffirming its commitment to sustained enforcement and public sensitisation to keep Lagos clean and healthy .
Wahab echoed this sentiment, emphasising that open urination and defecation are not merely nuisances but serious public health threats. "Lagos State will continue to enforce sanitation laws to protect public health, preserve human dignity and maintain order in communities across the state" .
For the 17 offenders now facing fines or jail time, the message is clear: Lagos will no longer tolerate public spaces doubling as toilets. But for the thousands who still lack access to affordable, clean sanitation facilities, the battle for a cleaner Lagos is far from over.
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