The Lagos State Government has deployed 1,710 new public toilets across markets, motor parks, waterfronts, and high-traffic corridors as part of an aggressive push to end open defecation and improve urban sanitation. The rollout, announced by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, is being executed in phases with priority given to densely populated LGAs and transit hubs.
Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, said the facilities are designed to be accessible, affordable, and properly managed under a public-private partnership model. Each unit comes with running water, lighting for night use, and dedicated cleaners to ensure daily maintenance. “You can’t enforce sanitation laws if you don’t provide alternatives. These toilets are that alternative,” he stated during an inspection in Oshodi.
The initiative directly supports Lagos’ commitment to the national “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign and the Sustainable Development Goal on sanitation. Data from the state shows that markets like Mile 12, Alaba, and Ladipo, as well as major bus terminals and slum-adjacent communities, were recording high rates of open defecation due to a lack of functional facilities. The new units are mapped to close those gaps.
To guarantee sustainability, the state has concessioned the toilets to certified operators who will charge a token fee, remit a portion to the government, and adhere to strict hygiene protocols. Enforcement teams from LAGESC and the Kick Against Indiscipline brigade will monitor compliance, while mobile courts are on standby to prosecute offenders caught defecating or urinating in public spaces.
Residents and traders have welcomed the move but called for 24-hour access and tighter security around the facilities, especially in crime-prone areas. The government says the next phase will include digital monitoring, additional units for riverine communities, and aggressive public education in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin. For Lagos, the message is simple: the era of “short put” is over — there’s now a toilet nearby.
