Lagos State authorities have arrested six individuals for engaging in open defecation in public spaces, violating the state’s environmental laws.
The arrests were made during a routine inspection by officials from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) in several areas of the state on Tuesday.
According to the authorities, the offenders were caught in the act at various locations notorious for public defecation. The Lagos State government has long campaigned against open defecation due to its health risks and environmental impact, including the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
A spokesperson for LAGESC emphasized that the arrests are part of the state’s broader effort to maintain a clean and hygienic environment. “We are intensifying efforts to rid Lagos of unsanitary practices, and violators of the law will face appropriate penalties,” the spokesperson said.
The state government has urged residents to make use of public facilities and sanitation infrastructure provided by the government and warned that further arrests would be made as part of its zero-tolerance policy on open defecation.
The six individuals arrested will be prosecuted under Lagos State’s environmental sanitation laws, with penalties ranging from fines to jail terms.