Sanitation Journal - Portable Sanitation In Nigeria, Africa

The most populous country in Africa is the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, located in West Africa. According
to a 2006 census there are approximately 140 million
people living in Nigeria, but up until 1999, there were
fewer than 500 functional public toilets available,
leaving people with no choice but to urinate and
defecate in the streets. The sanitation condition was
horrendous. Recognizing this need, a young man by
the name of Isaac Durojaiye (also known as Otunba
Gadaffi) took an idea that he conceived in 1992 and
made it into a reality when he formed DMT Mobile
Toilets Nigeria Ltd. Located in Lagos, Nigeria.
Durojaiye himself is a man full of optimism and a deep
passion for his country. He graduated from a technical
college in the United Kingdom (UK) as a graphic artist
and later earned a degree in Business Administration
from Lagos State Polytechnic. After leaving school,
Durojaiye served as an investigator in relations to
credit card fraud for American Express Card, U.K. He
also worked in the Security Division and as Chief
Bodyguard / Chief Security Officer to late Chief M.K.O

the fleet. Durojaiye’s desire was not only to improve the condition of sanitation in Nigeria, but also to make the whole
operation a local one. In 2002 the company began manufacturing plastic portable toilets locally and they were on their
way to success. DMT was the first manufacturer of portable toilets in the West African sub-region and the market was
wide open. DMT now supplies high-quality, plastic portable toilets for sale or lease around Nigeria. DMT handles all
servicing for the toilets twice a week. They can be seen at bus stops and markets. For a reasonable cost, companies may
also advertise on the sides of the portable toilets, which brings in approximately 25% of profits. With portable toilets
being made readily available in Nigeria, the hygienic conditions began to get better. People had options when nature
called, and an awareness of public health began to spread. The products and service continued to improve and DMT
was soon servicing major events all around Nigeria. “Our products and services frequently undergo modifications and
improvements to meet the needs of our clients,” says the DMT website. “The company is managed by skilled and
seasoned professionals in various fields. We uphold promptness, efficiency, reliability, and cleanness as our core
business values in our drive to satisfy our clients who cut across both public and private sectors.” One would consider
this success in business to be a great success story, yet Durojaiye’s dreams were not just to succeed in business. He
desired to see Nigeria flourish socially. DMT soon got involved with many different programs to help the people of
Nigeria. DETOWES (Descent Toilets for Schools and Women Empowerment Scheme) is one such non-profit, non-
governmental program through which Durojaiye donated free toilets to schools to promote better hygiene for the
children of Nigeria. In another bold step, DMT started a program to put to work the local boys of the neighborhoods
who were usually found idling around towns. Many would consider these boys to be social nuisances, but Durojaiye
saw an opportunity to both supply these “Area Boys” (as they are called) with a decent salary, as well as give them
respectable work experience. Portable toilets would be placed in busy areas and the boys would monitor the units.
Approximately 100 people a day pay a small cost of 20 Nigerian naira to use each toilet each day. This works out to an
average profit of $15 a day. The boys would then give a portion of the profit back to DMT, while keeping the remainder
for themselves as a decent salary for Nigeria. DMT has also been working through the Ministry of Women Affairs and
Poverty Alleviation by supplying toilets in strategic locations for women who are living in poverty to manage. Many of
these women are widows and have no other means of support. Not only does it supply extra income for these women,
but also provides them with a sense of empowerment and purpose. This company continues to grow and to take on new
social responsibilities. In their home state of Lagos, DMT toilets can be seen everywhere. Lagos State Government has
recently signed an agreement with DMT to set 3,000 portable units within Lagos. Toilets have been provided for the
police and army in Lagos, as well as at the University of Lagos. Now other states of Nigeria are seeking DMT products
and involvement. Durojaiye wants DMT to be a credible player in the lineglobal mobile toilet industry, while continuing
to serve the sanitation and social needs of Nigeria. Durojaiye and DMT have surely changed the face of business in
Nigeria. With Durojaiye it’s clearly not all about the profits and gain, but also about what the company can give to the
deserving and struggling people of Nigeria. With passion and creativity as his primary tools, Durojaiye will no doubt
continue to take portable sanitation in Nigeria to a new level, touching the lives of many along the way, and offering
hope of a cleaner, stronger Nigeria for the future. For more information about DMT or Isaac Durojaiye, please visit his
website at www.dmttoilet.com or email them at info@dmttoilet.com.