Seventeen individuals have been convicted and fined by a Lagos Magistrate Court for engaging in open defecation and urination.

The Lagos State Government disclosed this on its official verified X handle on Saturday.

According to the Lagos State Government, the offenders were apprehended by the Lagos Waste Management Authority.

They appeared before the Magistrate Court at Bolade, Oshodi, and were each sentenced to pay ₦40,000 or face one month imprisonment.

“Seventeen (17) environmental offenders apprehended by Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) were arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, for urinating and defecating in open spaces.

“The defendants were convicted and sentenced to a fine of ₦40,000 each or one (1) month imprisonment,” the statement read.

The state government condemned the acts, describing them as degrading to public spaces and harmful to the city’s image.

It also reiterated their commitment to enforcing environmental sanitation laws to maintain a cleaner, healthier Lagos.

“These acts have never been acceptable, as they degrade public spaces and deface our megacity.

“The government remains resolute and will continue to clamp down on defaulters to ensure a cleaner, healthier Lagos for all.”

Residents were urged to remain vigilant and take responsibility for their environment, with the government emphasising that maintaining cleanliness is a shared duty. (PUNCH)