A court in Lagos has sentenced a 42-year-old man to two years’ imprisonment for storing human faeces in containers on the street outside his residence. The case, which has drawn international attention, was condemned by British public health experts as a severe breach of sanitation standards.
The defendant, identified as Chibueze Nnamdi, was arrested in March after neighbours complained of a nauseating odour emanating from his property in the Surulere district. Police discovered 14 sealed plastic drums filled with faecal matter, some of which had begun to leak. Nnamdi claimed he was collecting the waste for use as fertiliser, but investigators found no evidence of agricultural activity.
Justice Adebayo Ogunlesi of the Lagos High Court ruled that Nnamdi’s actions constituted ‘a flagrant disregard for public health and environmental regulations’. The sentence includes a fine of 500,000 naira (approximately £1,000) or an additional six months in default. The drums were ordered to be disposed of by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority.
Professor Helen Carter, a specialist in environmental health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the incident highlighted the dangers of informal waste disposal. ‘Storing untreated human waste in a residential area poses risks of cholera, typhoid, and other faecal-oral diseases,’ she said. ‘Without proper containment and treatment, such bio-hazards can contaminate water sources and attract disease vectors.’
The case has reignited debate about sanitation infrastructure in Nigerian cities. Lagos, with an estimated population of 24 million, lacks a centralised sewerage system. Many residents rely on septic tanks and pit latrines, which are often emptied by private operators who may resort to illegal dumping. A 2022 World Bank report found that only 10% of Lagos households are connected to a proper sewage network.
‘This is not just an individual failing but a systemic issue,’ said Dr. Kemi Adebayo, a public health researcher at the University of Ibadan. ‘The lack of affordable, regulated waste collection services forces people to dispose of waste in harmful ways. The government must invest in infrastructure and enforce regulations to prevent such cases.’
The British High Commission in Abuja declined to comment on the case, but a spokesperson told The Times that the UK was committed to supporting Nigeria’s public health reforms. The UK has provided £30 million in aid for water and sanitation projects in Nigeria since 2010.
Nnamdi, who has no prior criminal record, publicly apologised in court. His lawyer, Femi Ogunbiyi, said they would appeal the sentence. ‘My client was unaware of the severity of his actions,’ Ogunbiyi told reporters. ‘He was trying to earn a living by selling fertiliser. The punishment is disproportionate.’
Public health advocates remain sceptical. ‘Ignorance does not excuse creating a public danger,’ said Professor Carter. ‘Local authorities must ensure that residents understand the risks and have access to safe disposal options.’
