…As Tokunbo Wahab Drives Lagos Towards Better Sanitation and Hygiene
The Lagos State Government has authorised the building of 100 new public lavatory units throughout the state in a daring move to combat open defecation and enhance public hygiene.
The goal of this project is to provide accessible sanitary facilities in every Local Government Area (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) as part of the Resilience Strategy.
During the observance of World Toilet Day 2024 on Tuesday, Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, made the news via tweet.
Wahab emphasised the significance of the subject for this year, “Use the Toilet and Have Peace,” which draws attention to the urgent global sanitation crisis that affects billions of people globally.
“The state government has approved the construction of 100 new public toilet units across Lagos. This reflects our commitment to ensuring a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all residents,” Wahab tweeted.
The commissioner emphasized that this initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. He added that the project demonstrates the government’s dedication to addressing the twin challenges of rapid population growth and insufficient sanitation infrastructure in Lagos.
“This development shows how seriously the administration takes public health and environmental sustainability. We are determined to bridge existing gaps through proactive infrastructure development,” Wahab noted.
The approval for the 100 public toilets builds on previous state initiatives, including the “Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign” across 13 LGAs and grassroots sanitation programs in 22 LGAs/LCDAs. Additionally, the training of 250 public toilet operators and the upgrading of 16 private-public toilet facilities has laid a solid foundation for expanding sanitation access.
According to Wahab, these efforts aim to ensure that public toilets are not only accessible but also meet high standards of hygiene and safety. “We are standardizing facilities to provide safer and more reliable options for residents, fostering healthier communities,” he added.
The new public toilet units are expected to offer safer sanitation options for Lagos residents, contributing to healthier communities and promoting environmental sustainability.
The government has called for continued public support and collaboration to achieve the vision of an open-defecation-free Lagos.
“Together, we can make Lagos open-defecation free and create a cleaner, healthier future for all,” Wahab concluded, urging residents to join the movement toward improved sanitation.