WaterAid has projected that by 2028, at least 10 million residents will gain direct access to basic WASH services across Lagos.

Speaking at a media roundtable, Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, confirmed that work had commenced on the project.

He stated that locations for the new toilets had already been identified to help eliminate open defecation in Lagos.

Rotimi-Akodu outlined the state’s three-way approach, which includes infrastructure development, advocacy, and strict enforcement for improved sanitation practices.

The government is prioritizing public toilet availability to reduce healthcare costs and enhance overall public health across communities.

Rotimi-Akodu emphasized the government’s stance against drilling boreholes, preferring to enhance Lagos Water Corporation’s capacity instead.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, highlighted illegal water usage concerns affecting government water supply efforts.

He explained that the state is exploring sustainable strategies to regulate and finance potable water supply across Lagos.

Meanwhile, WaterAid’s State Programme Lead, Dr. Adebayo Alao, revealed Kimberly Clark’s $1 million donation towards hygiene improvements.

The initiative targets 45,000 lactating women, adolescent girls, and vulnerable groups, promoting better hygiene behaviors within communities.

WaterAid has also facilitated the renovation of two Primary Health Centres with improved water and sanitation facilities.

Medical equipment worth ₦30 million was supplied to PHCs in Ogba and Odo-Nla, Epe, enhancing healthcare delivery services.

Additional achievements include support for Lagos State’s WASH policy review and rehabilitation of dysfunctional waterworks infrastructure.

A technical assessment of water supply systems led to the ongoing rehabilitation of Akilo Water Works in Lagos.

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Mr. Olorunfemi Oladipo, General Manager of RUWASA, emphasized the government’s plans during a visit to Wara, Ilorin West LGA.

He stressed the government’s determination to engage stakeholders, aiming for open defecation-free status in six pilot local governments.

Local and state monitoring teams were established to ensure every household across Kwara State has at least one functional toilet.

Oladipo noted local governments play a crucial role in this campaign due to their close ties with grassroots communities.

Three local governments—Ilorin South, Oke-Ero, and Ilorin West—have been engaged, with three more scheduled for engagement soon.

The remaining pilot areas—Patigi, Ekiti, and Ifelodun—will be included in the programme before the targeted completion date in May.

“The monitoring teams will ensure every household has a toilet to discourage open defecation and improve overall public hygiene,” he said.

He highlighted that RUWASA’s Clean Kwara Campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal Six for accessible water and sanitation.

Alhaji Abdulrahman Ladan, Ilorin West Council Chairman, confirmed the council included sanitation projects in its 2025 fiscal budget.

Budget allocations will provide public toilets in markets, schools, and public spaces, alongside boreholes for essential water access.

Mr. Abdulazeez Rufai, RUWASA’s Head of Sanitation and Hygiene, encouraged residents to prioritize hygiene for better community health.

He assured citizens that RUWASA remains committed to achieving open defecation-free status in all six pilot areas by May.

Oladipo also called on stakeholders, including private organizations and community leaders, to support ongoing sanitation initiatives statewide.

“Our collaborations with local councils will continue until we achieve a cleaner, healthier Kwara, free from open defecation,” Oladipo concluded.

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The Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a vital 127km six-lane road connecting Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states and serving as a major route to the North and South of Nigeria, has long been known for its traffic congestion and accidents.

However, recent reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts aimed at easing these issues have inadvertently given rise to a new problem – rising incidents of open defecation.

Despite significant government investment in the expressway’s reconstruction, miscreants and touts have turned the median into public toilets, creating an unsanitary and unpleasant environment. The stretch from Sagamu Interchange to the Ojodu Berger axis in Lagos State has become particularly affected, with human feces littering the area.

While the expressway’s revamp successfully reduced auto accidents and traffic gridlock, the emergence of open defecation raises concerns about hygiene and public health. Residents have reported an unbearable stench, especially in areas like Kara-OPIC, where feces not only cover the median but also spill onto the roadsides, the bank of the Ogun River, and the cattle market.

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Local residents have expressed their worries, noting that urgent actions are needed to avoid potential disease outbreaks. Complaints to government agencies have been made, but no concrete measures have been taken to address the issue.

Some residents attribute the problem to miscreants who lack a proper place to call home. Despite the existence of public toilets along the expressway, some individuals choose open defecation due to their reluctance to pay the token fees charged by these facilities.

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Community leaders and residents alike emphasize the need for stronger enforcement by relevant government agencies to curb open defecation. They highlight the absence of health and sanitation officers at the local government level, calling for a revival of Environmental/Sanitation Inspection Officers to monitor and enforce sanitation rules.

As Nigeria continues to invest in critical infrastructure projects, attention must also be given to maintaining public hygiene and addressing emerging challenges to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all.

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