THE IMPACT OF LAGOS STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRACTICES OF OPEN DEFECATION AND ATTITUDE CHANGE AMONG RESIDENTS OF IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Abstract The paper has discussed the effects of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agencies on Open Defecation Practices and Attitudinal Change among the Residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State. A survey research design was used with the sampled population of 400 residents who were randomly chosen, and the data were gathered with the help of structured questionnaires. It was a research based on the frequency of open defecation with agency action, the policies taken by environmental protection agencies, the effectiveness of action taken to enforce and sensitize the people on improved sanitation, the impact of the work done by agencies on the attitude of people toward better sanitation and the challenges that were encountered in dealing with the open defecation. The results showed that open defecation was still high, yet the agency measures like the public sanitation exercise, awareness creation and working with the community leaders positively affected the attitudes and adherence to the sanitation rules by the residents. This paper also established that the agencies are hindered by inadequate funding, lack of proper infrastructure and inadequate collaboration by the people. The research concludes that the reduction of open defecation and the change of attitudes in Lagos State require long-term enforcement, involvement of the community, and infrastructural support.