Lagos shuts dirty public toilets over health concerns

Lagos State government has sealed public toilets on the Island due to offensive odours from the facilities.

This action, taken on Sunday by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, followed complaints from residents about the unpleasant smells affecting the environment and public health.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the closure in a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office on Sunday sealed off public toilets in the Offin, Balogun, Oke-Arin and No. 14 Adeniji Adele Road (Olukolu Place) areas of Lagos Island,” Wahab said.

He explained that the government acted after receiving reports from residents who were disturbed by the bad odour coming from the toilets.

“This act is an infringement under the state’s environmental laws, leading to the recorded waterborne diseases that negatively impact the citizens’ health,” he added.

Wahab warned that the government would continue to clamp down on facilities that pollute the environment and violate sanitation laws.

“The agency will continue to clamp down on facilities carrying out such unlawful acts of degradation of the environment,” he said.

He also urged residents to properly maintain their toilets by regularly emptying septic tanks and soakaway pits.

“We encourage residents to regularly evacuate their septic tanks and soakaway pits. The state government has zero tolerance for the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment,” the commissioner said.