CURBING OPEN DEFECATION: LASG, WATERAID, PRIVATE SECTOR COLLABORATE TO BUILD 350 PUBLIC TOILETS IN LAGOS. (PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 CURBING OPEN DEFECATION: LASG, WATERAID, PRIVATE SECTOR COLLABORATE TO BUILD 350 PUBLIC TOILETS IN LAGOS  The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with WaterAid Plan and private operators, is set to build 350 more public toilets across the state to curb widespread open defecation and maintain hygiene and sanitation.  This is just as the State WaterAid team lead gave a projection that by 2028, the organisation will reach 10 million residents directly and another 17 million indirectly through interventions with basic Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) access. Speaking at a roundtable over the weekend, the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu said work has started on some of the toilets including identifying the locations for them. He stated that the State government will adopt the three-way approach in tackling the issue of open defecation, which is to put infrastructure in place, engage in massive advocacy and lastly, undertake an enforcement d...

UNION DEMANDS SON'S DISSOLUTION, RESTRUCTURING OVER RISING BUILDING COLLAPSES. (PHOTO).


 Union Demands SONā€™s Dissolution, Restructuring Over Rising Building Collapses


The Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has urged the Federal Government to dissolve and restructure the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a long-term solution to the frequent building collapses across the country.


In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, National President of the Union, criticized SONā€™s decision to reverse the shutdown of 18 companies linked to the production of substandard building materials, particularly iron rods. He blamed alleged government interference for the decision, raising concerns about weak enforcement of quality standards in the construction sector.


Awoyale condemned the widespread use of inferior materials, which he said has led to multiple avoidable building collapses, including at least three incidents in January 2025 alone. Describing the situation as a national embarrassment, he urged the government to take bold steps to hold regulatory bodies accountable.


ā€œThe government must act decisively to prevent further loss of lives and property. Dissolving SON and restructuring its framework is the only way to ensure accountability and enforce standards,ā€ he stated.


He also pointed out that despite SONā€™s legal mandate to prosecute manufacturers of substandard materials, enforcement has been hampered by corruption and collusion within the system.


ā€œThe law stipulates prosecution, yet corrupt officials allow violators to escape consequences, fueling this dangerous cycle,ā€ Awoyale added.


The union had made a similar appeal in 2024, but no concrete action was taken, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers to continue flooding the market with inferior materials while exporting high-quality products to countries with stricter regulations.


Citing data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, he revealed that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State alone accounting for 56% of cases.


The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development also raised alarms over rampant quality violations, exposing cases where iron rods were deliberately undersized, such as 7.56 mm rods being sold as 10 mm and 9.25 mm rods as 12 mm.


Calling for urgent reforms, Awoyale stressed that dissolving SON and replacing it with a stronger regulatory agency was not just a necessity but a moral obligation.


ā€œThe time for empty promises is over. The government must prioritize public safety over the interests of a few unscrupulous businesses,ā€ he concluded.

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