Open Defecation: Lagos Deploys 1,710 Public Toilets Across The State, Orders Business Outfits To Make Their Restrooms Accessible To The Public

The Lagos State Government has deployed 1,710 functional public toilets across the state and directed businesses, including restaurants, filling stations and banks, to make their restrooms accessible to members of the public.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X on Saturday, noting that the facilities are strategically located to serve both residents and visitors.

Wahab said government alone cannot eliminate open defecation, urging private establishments that serve the public to support ongoing sanitation efforts by allowing access to their restrooms where feasible.

He explained that the initiative is designed to significantly expand sanitation coverage across the state through collaboration between government and the private sector.

According to him, enforcement of environmental sanitation laws is also being strengthened alongside the expansion of infrastructure.

He wrote, “As part of our sustained efforts to eliminate open defecation and improve public sanitation across Lagos State, we currently have 1,710 functioning public toilets strategically located across the state for residents and visitors.

“However, government cannot do this alone. We are encouraging businesses such as filling stations, banks, eateries, and other public-facing facilities to make their restrooms accessible to the public where possible. This collaborative approach will significantly complement government efforts and expand access to sanitation facilities across the state”.

He added that authorities are arresting and prosecuting individuals caught engaging in open defecation in accordance with the law.

He said the measures were necessary to protect public health, preserve dignity, and maintain a cleaner environment for all.

“At the same time, we continue to enforce environmental sanitation laws. Individuals caught engaging in open defecation are being arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. These measures are necessary to protect public health, preserve dignity, and maintain a cleaner environment for all”, he added.

Wahab described access to sanitation as a shared responsibility. He stressed that residents and businesses must play their part as the government continues to expand infrastructure to ensure Lagos remains clean, safe, and habitable.

He concluded, “Access to sanitation is a shared responsibility. While government continues to expand infrastructure, residents and businesses must also play their part in ensuring Lagos remains clean, safe, and habitable”.

  

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How Murder Suspect Fled Lagos To Murder Lover In Cross River

    On Sunday, March 29, a 30-year-old man, Sunday Ejor, of Nwang community, Ekajuk Ward 2 in Ogoja Local Government Area of Northern Cross River State, allegedly butchered his live-in lover, Lucy Moshe Igu, 26, a native of Abrumbede, Ibil, also in Ekajuk, and hid her body in the bush.

The suspect, a peasant farmer, was allegedly previously accused in Lagos where he was resident also for murder and involvement in illicit narcotic substances, escaped and went back to his Nwang community, three years ago, where he met and fell in love with the victim.

The relationship, according to villagers in Nwang, was checkered owing to frequent fights because of accusations of infidelity against Lucy by Sunday even as he failed to undertake the proper marital process for his so-called lover to become his wife. He frequently accused the lady of cheating on him with three of his friends, names withheld.

On the day of the murder, Sunday began attacking the lady at night and early in the morning, allegedly dragged her to a nearby stream and inflicted her with severe cuts on her head, face and neck which led to her death.

To conceal the murder, he allegedly wrapped her body in the wrapper she was tying and dragged her into the bush.

The absence of the woman from home for several hours, it was gathered, raised suspicion from some youths who accosted the suspect and, after threats, he led them to where he dumped the lady’s body. The youths were about to lynch him when someone called in the police who rescued the man and took him into custody.

When Sunday Vanguard visited Ibil village, a cousin of the deceased, Joy Philip, said: “The man brutally killed my cousin in the farm even though he is yet to pay the bride price or even bring the customary drink to the family as culture demands”.

She lamented that the incident happened months after her eldest brother drowned in the local river at midnight.

“These frequent deaths have become too many in my family.  Moshe, may your spirit not rest while your killer is still breathing. Make sure peace is far from him until you get the justice you deserve and find rest in peace”, the cousin said as tears ran down her cheeks.

After the arrest of the suspect by policemen from  the Ogoja Divisional Police Station, women from both communities who thronged the police station in large numbers clashed at the police station.

While Ibil women demanded for the release of the man to them “to handle him in our own way”, Nwang women insisted that the right process must be followed to get justice for the victim.

“Cruelty like this exists because the system has failed us. No one cares about what the law says, everyone has become a judge of his own insanity so we are ready to do justice to this cruelty”, Uduma, one of the protesting Ibil women, told Sunday Vanguard. 

She said the man took life out of another human being and as such ”does not deserve to live”.

The Nwang women, for their part, insisted that the killing “was an accident and due process must be followed for justice to prevail”.

“Do two wrongs make a right? The killing may be an accident or in self-defense. It could be that the girl attacked her husband first and these Ibil women are asking the police to release our son to them to kill him. Is that the right thing to do?” Madam Agnes Abu, the leader of the Nwang women, said while defending their son.

According to her, the lovers lived in Nwang community and everyone knew that the lovers were frequently involved in fights.

Cross River State Police Command said the man had been arrested.

Confirming the arrest, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, police spokesman, said sources alleged that the suspect carried out the attack due to suspicions of infidelity.

“Police operatives swiftly responded upon receiving the report and visited the scene of the incident and the suspect was apprehended and rescued from an attempted mob action by youths. He is in custody for his safety and ongoing investigation”, he added.

The spokesman further disclosed that the victim’s remains had been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ogoja. He concluded that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

 Culled from Vanguard  

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