The Oyo State Government is set to take a more drastic step to end open defecation and irresponsible refuse dump in the State.
Speaking in a two-day media dialogue on open defecation-free in the South-West States, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, announced that the government will now begin to penalize anyone found guilty of open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
He added that this was part of the State’s efforts to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2027.
The commissioner 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 promote behavioural change in the hygiene of citizens and curb open defecation.”
He further added that;
“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, concluded by appealing to the residents to always patronise government-approved waste consultants and stop the unhygienic practice of open defecation.
“To this end, billboards will be erected at major junctions and entry points of the state, to discourage anyone from practising any environmental infractions, and the penalties. The government is bent on ensuring residents obey the law of social etiquette,” he said.
UNICEF WASH Specialist, Monday Johnson once educated the public that “according to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 48 million Nigerians are practicing open defecation and Oyo State has one of the highest data on unhygienic practices of open defecation in the southwest”
Read also: Prominent Oyo APC Member, Adedibu, Passes Away
However, UNICEF expressed joy on the State’s progressive step to end open defecation.