By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Feb.23, ’26 (TNZ) The Lagos State Government, through its Anti-Open Defecation Squad, apprehended 46 offenders during a coordinated morning operation across Lagos Island.
TheNewsZenith reports that the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, announced the arrests in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said LAWMA made the arrests between Feb. 20 and Feb. 22, during routine monitoring exercises around Ebute Ero and adjoining areas.
The areas include Marina, CMS, Obalende and Adeniji Adele.
“On Feb. 20, we apprehended 20 offenders; 15 additional suspects were picked up on Feb. 21 and 11 suspects on Feb. 22.
“The sustained surveillance operations target habitual open defecation blackspots,’’ TheNewsZenith quotes Gbadegesin as stating.
According to him, the agency has transferred all suspects to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LSESC) in Oshodi.
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He added that LSESC would carry out further investigation and prosecute the offenders in line with the environmental laws.
Gbadegesin explained that the enforcement exercise forms part of the State Government’s efforts to eliminate open defecation.
“It is also to safeguard public health and maintain environmental sanitation standards across the metropolis,’’ he added.
The LAWMA boss emphasised that open defecation violates environmental regulations. It also poses serious health and environmental risks, particularly within densely populated commercial corridors.
Gbadegesin urged residents and business operators to utilise approved public sanitation facilities and desist from acts that could undermine the State’s environmental sustainability drive.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained monitoring and enforcement, warning that offenders would continue to face arrest and prosecution under the law. (TNZ)
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