The Oyo State Government is ready to painstakingly deal with anyone who defecates in the open, or indiscriminately dump refuse. This is a deliberate effort to change the state’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) statistics.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 48 million Nigerians are practicing open defecation. This is even as UNICEF WASH Specialist, Monday Johnson, revealed that Oyo State has one of the highest data on unhygienic practices of open defecation in the southwest.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, at a two-day media dialogue on ‘Open defecation-free in the South-West States’, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said the move to penalise anyone who openly defecates or get involved in indiscriminate dumping of refuse are part of efforts aimed at achieving the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2027.
Oyelade said the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, has unequivocally mandated the Ministry of Justice to ensure the prosecution of anyone who dumps refuses, or defecates openly. The penalty, when fully in place, would engender behavioural change in the hygiene of citizens and curb open defecation.
“The government is willing to effect the necessary behavioural change in open defecation, working with UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene action plan. In this state, we have adopted the WASH action plan; if need be, we will back it up with legislation. And the Ministry of Justice has been mandated to penalise defecators and those dumping refuse in illegal sites. Also, law enforcement agencies will do their bit. It is sad that Nigeria has taken over from Egypt by recording the highest rate of open defecation. And the government will deal decisively with open defecators.” Oyelade clarified.
Oyelade said the government, before 2027, would ensure much improvement in the social menaces and all other diseases plaguing the state, and appealed to the residents to patronise government-approved waste consultants and stop the unhygienic practice of open defecation. Hence, billboards will be erected at major junctions and entry points of the state, to discourage anyone from practicing any environmental infractions, and facing the penalties. The government is resolute on ensuring residents obey the law of social etiquette.
UNICEF was glad that the state has progressively started actions to end open defecation.
