A Nigerian man has been sentenced to prison for storing human faeces in his backyard, just metres from newly built homes modelled on British suburban estates. The case has sparked outrage among residents who say the stench and health risks have made their lives unbearable.
Chuka Okonkwo, 54, was convicted under public health regulations after a year-long investigation by local authorities. The waste, stored in plastic barrels and open pits, had been accumulating since 2022. Neighbours described a “constant, sickening smell” and reported swarms of flies and rodents.
“We couldn’t open our windows. My children had persistent coughs and skin rashes,” said Amina Bello, a mother of three living next door. “We paid a fortune for these houses, expecting a better life. Instead, we got this.”
The homes, part of a gated community in the Lekki district, were designed to mimic British suburban architecture. The developer had marketed them as “a slice of England in Africa.” But for residents, the dream turned into a nightmare.
Okonkwo, a former sanitation worker, claimed he was storing the waste for a local farmer who planned to use it as fertiliser. But investigators found no evidence of any agricultural arrangement. They also discovered that Okonkwo had been charging households in nearby slums to dispose of their waste, illegally dumping it on his property.
“This was a clear breach of hygiene laws,” said Dr. Adewale Olusegun, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment. “We cannot tolerate such recklessness, especially in areas where people have invested in their homes. The sentence sends a strong message.”
Okonkwo was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay £5,000 in cleanup costs. His lawyer said he would appeal, arguing that his client was providing a necessary service in a city with inadequate waste management.
But for residents, the damage is done. Many say property values have plummeted. “Who wants to buy a house next to a faeces dump?” asked Kehinde Ogun, a local estate agent. “It’s a health hazard and a stigma.”
The case has reignited debate about rapid urbanisation in Nigeria, where sprawling estates often sit alongside informal settlements with no sanitation. Activists say the government must invest in proper waste infrastructure or face more such scandals.
“The problem is not just one man,” said Fatima Suleiman, a community organiser. “It’s a system that forces the poor to live in squalor while the rich build walls. We need to talk about inequality, not just blame individuals.”
This report is based on court documents and interviews with residents and officials.
