By Ridwan Sorunke

In Lagos, sanitation is not just an infrastructure crisis, it is a data crisis. Every day, millions of people across the state rely on toilets that are not monitored, pits that are not emptied safely, and waste that is dumped without accountability. At the root of these failures is a single issue: the government lacks a functional data system to track and manage non-sewered sanitation.

Most residents use on-site systems like pit latrines, septic tanks, and container toilets. These systems are essential in informal and underserved areas, but they are nearly invisible in official records. There is no reliable database showing where they exist, how often they are serviced, or where the sludge ends up.

In 2022, the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office attempted a baseline mapping to close this gap. But, as a 2024 report by Dev-Afrique Development Advisors makes clear, that effort was not sufficient. The data was fragmented, the systems for updating it were inadequate, and key stakeholders were not fully integrated into the process.

The consequences are enormous. Without data, regulators cannot enforce standards. Health officials cannot respond to outbreaks in time. Communities cannot hold service providers accountable. And public funds are spent based on estimates, not evidence.

But this is not inevitable. Other cities have found solutions.

In Kampala, Uganda, the government uses a mobile app to link households to licensed waste haulers and track every pickup. In Kenya, sanitation regulators use digital dashboards to evaluate performance and guide funding decisions.

First, build a digital sanitation platform. This platform should integrate data from all relevant agencies, including local councils, waste operators, health ministries, and environmental units. It should feature GIS mapping, performance indicators, and alerts for system breakdowns.

Second, use mobile tools for field data. Sanitation officers and community workers should be equipped with digital tools like KoboCollect and mWater, enabling them to record data at the point of service. More sophisticated ERP platforms like EDAMS can help utilities link data on billing, operations, and service quality. International models like IMIS in Bangladesh show how sanitation data can be integrated with health and education systems to support coordinated development.

Third, fund and empower monitoring units. Without proper monitoring and evaluation, data collection is meaningless. Lagos must invest in trained monitoring teams within LGAs and ministries to analyze data, track trends, and adjust policies as needed.

Donor funding has dried up. USAID has exited the space, and other organizations are shifting toward technical support rather than service delivery. Lagos can no longer rely on external support to manage its public health challenges.

This means sanitation data must be funded locally, not as a luxury but as a necessity. It must be institutionalized in budgets, procurement systems, and staffing.

Data is not a side issue. It is the backbone of any system that aims to serve the public equitably. If sanitation is a right, then data is the way we ensure it is realized, for everyone, everywhere.

Lagos cannot fix sanitation until it fixes its data problem. The time to act is now.

Ridwan Sorunke is the Founder of the Policy Vault Project and a Principal at Dev-Afrique Development Advisors, a strategy and advisory firm supporting governments, private sector actors, and nonprofits across Africa in driving data-informed development outcomes.