Assessing the Ecological Impact of Excreta Disposal on Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Abstract

The dumping of raw faecal waste at Iddo Jetty poses serious environmental and public health issues for the Lagos Lagoon. The effects of these behaviors on the health of communities, fish safety, and the quality of water are examined in this study. The study is to evaluate how lagoon water usage is affected by the dumping of faeces, how common waterborne illnesses are among residents and waste handlers, and to offer practical suggestions for better cleanliness.Surveys and interviews were conducted with 163 respondents and 33 garbage handlers to gather field data. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on observations about lagoon water utilization, sanitation procedures, and health outcomes. The results showed that, despite serious contamination, 74.2% of respondents depend on the lagoon for fishing, and 2.5% drink the water. Residents reported 13.5% typhoid, 16.6% cholera, and 23.9% dysentery. Waste handlers who came into touch with raw faecal effluent reported getting typhoid (12.1%) and diarrhea (18.1%). Furthermore, 23.3% of those surveyed said that fish from the lagoon were unfit for human eating due to faecal pollution. The investigation comes to the conclusion that Iddo Jetty's poor waste management and sanitation seriously endanger the community's health and harm the lagoon ecology. To guarantee the lagoon's sustainable use, immediate actions include installing centralized sewage systems, building adequate sanitary facilities, raising public knowledge of health hazards, and upholding environmental protection laws.