Lagos Residents Want More Public Toilets

Just as traders in Lagos State mark another environmental sanitation exercise, some residents have urged the state government to provide more public toilets in markets and other designated centres.
The residents, who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos, recently, added that if done, it would help checkmate indiscriminate defecation.
They also said the provision of more toilets was necessary, in view of the large population, and that the existing ones were inadequate.
A civil servant, Mrs Veronica Okpala,said that residents defecate indiscriminately because public toilets were not available in their areas.
“I think one of the reasons why people defecate and urinate in unauthorised places is because the number of public toilets is inadequate.
“Lagosians are busy people; most times they are outside of their homes doing one thing or the other to survive.
“Now, if it is time to answer the call of nature, it is difficult not to do it anywhere if public toilets are far away or not available.
“I think the governments will be doing a lot to protect the environment if they consider providing more public toilets, “ she said.
A trader at Rauf Aregbesola Market, Iyana Ipaja, Taiwo Adeola, said that the inadequate number of public toilets was largely responsible for the poor sanitary conditions of markets in the state.
Adeola said the toilets at most markets were never enough to serve the high number of traders and visitors, forcing many to discharge their wastes in any open space.
“Rather than closing markets every now and then over poor sanitary conditions, the government should improve market infrastructure, especially toilets.
“Our markets need more toilets to serve those who go there to do business, “ he said.
A resident of Agege,Mr Rahman Ajayi, said the high fees being charged for the use of public toilets had discouraged residents from using the facilities.
“The public toilets are not enough, even the few ones charge high fees.
“How do you want people to patronise these facilities when they know they have to part with exorbitant fees.
“I think the government should abolish these fees, “ he said.
A student, Tunde Awodiya,commended the government for providing mobile toilets across the state, but said the provision of more of such would help check cases of environmental abuse.