Nigeria, April 18 -- The Lagos State Government has appealed to banks, eateries, filling stations and other privately owned businesses to grant members of the public access to their restrooms, in a renewed push to curb open defecation and improve sanitation across the state.

The appeal comes as the government announces it is expanding public sanitation infrastructure, with 1,710 functional public toilets currently deployed across strategic locations in Lagos.

According to the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a post on Saturday, government efforts alone are not sufficient to meet the sanitation needs of the state's rapidly growing population.

"The government cannot do this alone. We are encouraging...