In a renewed push to strengthen environmental discipline and safeguard public health, the Lagos State Government has arraigned 17 individuals for engaging in open urination and defecation across the state.

The development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday.

According to the Commissioner, the offenders were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and subsequently charged before the Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi. The court found all 17 defendants guilty of the environmental offences.

Each offender was sentenced to pay a fine of ₦40,000 or serve a one-month term of imprisonment.

Wahab emphasized that open urination and defecation remain criminal offences under Lagos environmental laws, warning that such acts pose serious public health risks and undermine the dignity of communities.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to strict enforcement of sanitation regulations, stressing that maintaining a clean environment is a shared responsibility among residents.

“Open urination and defecation are environmental offences and serious public health risks,” the Commissioner stated. “Lagos State will continue to enforce sanitation laws firmly to protect public health, preserve human dignity, and maintain order in our communities.”

Residents were urged to make use of available public sanitation facilities and comply fully with environmental regulations, as the government intensifies efforts to promote hygiene and sustainable urban living across the state.

The latest enforcement action underscores the administration’s broader campaign to uphold environmental standards and ensure a cleaner, healthier Lagos for all.