The Lagos State Government (LASG), in collaboration with WaterAid and private operators, has announced plans to construct 350 public toilets across the state as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat open defecation and improve sanitation infrastructure.
During a media roundtable held over the weekend, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, revealed that work has already commenced on the project, with key locations for the toilets being identified.
He mentioned that the state government would adopt a three-way approach in tackling the issue of open defecation, which is to put infrastructure in place, engage in advocacy, and undertake an enforcement drive to ensure that everyone embraces the use of public toilets.
The initiative forms part of the state’s broader strategy to ensure all Lagosians have access to clean water, decent sanitation, and good hygiene practices. Rotimi-Akodu expressed gratitude to WaterAid for their collaboration, which he described as crucial in addressing the state’s sanitation challenges.
The state programme lead for WaterAid Lagos, Dr. Adebayo Alao, highlighted the organisation’s projection to reach 10 million Lagos residents directly and another 17 million indirectly by 2028 through its basic Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.
Alao detailed WaterAid’s recent achievements, including the renovation of two primary health centres with fully functional water supply and sanitation facilities. The organisation also provided medical equipment valued at over three billion naira to the Ogba and Odo-Nla Primary Health Centres in Epe.
Beyond sanitation improvements, the government reiterated its commitment to enhancing water supply across the state. Rotimi-Akodu noted that the state is working to move away from borehole drilling, focusing instead on expanding pipe-borne water through the Lagos Water Corporation.
“We are not proud of borehole drilling, and we are eager to move away from it. The state is set to start generating a combined capacity of not less than 100 million gallons of pipe-borne water daily through the Adiyan Waterworks,” he stated. “We are committed to making water more accessible to all Lagosians.”
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engineer Mahamood Adegbite, added that while the government is working to improve water supply, residents should expect changes in how water services are delivered and funded.
“Residents must know that provision of pipe-borne water is never going to be free going forward,” Adegbite explained. “Government does not expect private organisations or individuals to invest in water supply, and residents get it for free; hence, conversations are still going on as regards the tariff setting.”
Adegbite noted that the water supply initiative represents a significant investment, with partners contributing around N800 million while the state government is investing billions of naira in the project.
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