The Guardian (Nigeria)

Open defecation: Petitioner­s task Lagos on building public toilet at Itun Agan community

• Lagos constructs 167 public toilets, registers 635 operators

- By Bertram Nwannekanm­a ESPONDENTS Read the remaining part of this story on www. guardian. ng

Rhave lamented the ugly situation of Itun Agan community in Amuwo Odofin Local Council of Lagos State, where residents defecate openly.

Itun Agan community is a riverine settlement of over 10,000 residents.

Separated from the Apapa Port by the Lagos Lagoon, this 100- year old community grapples with open defecation and its negative effects due to absence of public toilets.

Residents, whether old, pregnant or ill, have to climb wooden boats to be able to defecate openly inside the lagoon.

Not only is open defecation inside the lagoon done in the full glare of onlookers, which could expose residents to dangers of tripping and falling while climbing the boats, it also assaults innocent bystanders’ sense of sight, generates offensive odor in the community, and poses a grave danger to the aquatic animals consuming human feces day in, day out.

Already, 111 out of 200 respondent­s have signed a petition by a citizen, John Ogunsemore calling on Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin council, Valentine Buraimoh, to commit him to building a public toilet at Itun Agan community.

The petition is poised to change the narrative, especially as the state joined the globe to celebrate the world toilet day.

M

EANWHILE, the state government of the state has said that it has con

structed over167 public toilets in designated areas and registered over 635 public toilet operators as part of efforts to prevent open defecation.

Speaking at 2022 World Toilet Day, celebratio­ns held at the Lagos Island Local Council Secretaria­t, Permanent Secretary Office of Environmen­tal Services, Dr. Tajudeen Gaji, said the state is determined to end open defecation and other sanitation challenges.

He said part of the measures was the constructi­on of new toilets at various strategic locations such as motor parks, markets and densely populated areas across the state.

The PS represente­d by the Deputy Director, Sanitation Services, Mrs. Janet Balogun said the theme: “Sanitation and Groundwate­r: Making the Invisible Visible” was a clarion call on all stakeholde­rs to prioritise hygiene as it is the cheapest method to combat the spread of diseases and control all environmen­tal crisis.

He maintained that groundwate­r is a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, saying that about 40 per cent of water is for irrigated agricultur­e and about 1/ 3 water required for industry.

He said Nigeria presently occupy the topmost level in the ladder of open defecation, adding that to combat the menace President Muhammadu Buhari declared a State of Emergency on Open Defecation in the country as contained in the Executive Order 009 titled: The Open Defecation - Free Nigeria by 2025 and other related matters.

 ?? ?? Itun Agan community in Amuwo Odofin Local Council of Lagos State
Itun Agan community in Amuwo Odofin Local Council of Lagos State

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