In commemoration of World Toilet Day, the Ogun State Government has officially criminalised open defecation and urination as part of its efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on water accessibility, sanitation, and hygiene for all.
The World Toilet Day is celebrated annually on November 19.
The year’s campaign, themed ‘Toilets – A Place for Peace,’ is to highlight how broken or inadequate sanitation systems affect people’s lives and show how sustainable sanitation is essential to a healthy and stable society.
The campaign, which began in 2019, seeks to eliminate open defecation nationwide by 2025.
Media Talk Africa reports that the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, had lamented that Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practising open defecation, estimated at over 46 million people.
Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya announced the plan to criminalise offenders during the commissioning of four new public toilets equipped with bio-digesters in border communities along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, including Berger, Isheri, Warewa, and Magboro, on Tuesday.
The newly commissioned toilets increase the total number of public facilities in the area to 20, while the state-wide count now stands at 80.
The facilities, according to the commissioner, will eradicate open defecation and establish Ogun as an open-defecation-free state.
Oresanya explained that criminalising open urination and defecation marks the beginning of rigorous enforcement measures and strict penalties for offenders.
He maintained that this initiative will not only support the attainment of SDG Goal 6 but also enhance the aesthetic beauty of the state and improve the overall well-being of residents.
He said: “This is a significant step towards making Ogun State open-defecation-free. It aligns with our commitment to SDG 6, ensuring water accessibility, proper sanitation, and hygiene for all.
“The enforcement of this law, coupled with the provision of public toilets, will promote a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents.”
