The Lagos State Government, on Thursday, officially flagged off the Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Hygiene Behaviour Change Campaign in Ikorodu Division, with a clarion call from the First Lady, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for all residents to embrace safe hygiene practices and take ownership of public sanitation efforts — in a bold move to enhance public health and environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Ikorodu Musical Village, Dr. Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Victoria Olowu, emphasized the need for a statewide cultural shift toward hygiene consciousness. She urged households to construct functional toilets and abandon the long-standing practices of defecating in bushes, behind buildings, and on beaches, which she described as “undignifying and dangerous.”
According to her, “The theme of this campaign, ‘Lagos State Open Defecation Free Campaign Enhances Dignity, Protects Public Health,’ is very apt. There is no dignity in open defecation. True dignity is found in having access to clean toilets and maintaining good hygiene for every man, woman, boy, and girl.”
The First Lady highlighted that open defecation is not restricted to rural areas but also affects urban centres, markets, motor parks, and even some residential communities across Lagos. She pointed out its detrimental consequences—including the spread of cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and other communicable diseases, as well as its harmful impact on water sources and the environment.
“Beyond health implications, open defecation tarnishes the image of our state, strips our communities of dignity, and undermines the vision for a cleaner, smarter, and safer Lagos,” she said, stressing that the provision and use of decent sanitation facilities must become the norm in all public and private spaces.
She called on community leaders, faith-based organisations, youth associations, women’s groups, and residents at large to become active champions of the ODF campaign, intensify awareness efforts, and ensure the availability and proper use of clean and accessible public toilets.
In his welcome address, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, described the campaign as a major milestone in Lagos’ pursuit of a healthier and more dignified society. He noted that the initiative is more than a sanitation strategy—it is a transformational movement aimed at reshaping attitudes toward hygiene and environmental responsibility.
“This campaign is not just about eliminating open defecation; it is about fostering a cultural revolution. It’s about encouraging Lagosians to adopt safe hygiene practices and protect our shared spaces,” he said.
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “Why Lagos Must Be Clean: Lagos State Efforts,” Dr. Hassan Sanuth, Director of the Sanitation Services Department, Office of Environmental Services, described open defecation as a demeaning act that erodes human dignity. He asserted that a clean environment is a cornerstone for public health, economic prosperity, and a high quality of life for residents.
Dr. Sanuth called for collective responsibility in the fight against open defecation, urging citizens to collaborate with the government in achieving its vision of an Open Defecation Free Lagos.
The campaign launch in Ikorodu marks a strategic move in the state’s roadmap to meet the national target of eliminating open defecation by 2025, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes access to water and sanitation for all.
The event was attended by top government functionaries, environmental health officers, community stakeholders, and sanitation advocates, all united in one voice to drive the message: “Lagos Must Be Clean.”
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