Dare Babalola
No fewer than seven persons have been apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Anti–Open Defecation Squad
The Lagos State Anti-Open Defecation Squad has arrested seven suspected offenders in a morning crackdown at Ebute Ero, Lagos Island, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle environmental violations.
According to a statement issued by Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the arrests were made in the early hours of Friday.
The suspects have been taken to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) headquarters in Oshodi for investigation and prosecution, in accordance with the state’s environmental regulations.
The statement reads, “Apprehended persons (Name — Age — Occupation — State of Origin — Location of Arrest — Offence): 1. Shile Suraj — 65 — Maritime dock worker — Osun — Ebute Ero — Open defecation 2. Chika Chibuzor — 21 — Business — Anambra — Inner Marina — Open defecation 3.Ganiu Mustafa — 35 — Trading — Kwara — Apongbon — Open defecation 4. Justice Ugo — 52 — Driving — Imo — Apongbon — Open defecation 5.Ajala Olanrewaju — 33 — Unemployed — Oyo — Ebute Ero — Open defecation 6.Adam Abubakar — 23 — Driving — Jos — Inner Marina — Open defecation 7.Lawal Mohammed — 28 — Load carrier — Borno — Ebute Ero — Open defecation.”
The statement added, “Residents and commuters are reminded that public toilets are available within the Lagos Island axis, including toilets at designated public convenience points and customer toilets at many fuel stations (filling stations) along major routes—particularly around Marina, Broad Street, Apongbon, Idumota and Ebute Ero corridors.”
Dr Gbadegesin warned that open defecation is unacceptable where lawful facilities are available, stressing that such acts will continue to attract enforcement action.
The Lagos State government had earlier arrested 10 individuals for open defecation in the Ebute Ero, Apongbon, and Inner Marina areas of the state.
According to a Wednesday statement shared on X, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that open defecation is a direct threat to public health, disclosing that the arrested individuals have been transferred to the Special Offences mobile court in the Bolade area of Oshodi.
