CITIZENS COMPASS– AS Nigerians joined the world to mark World Toilet Day, the chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Wasiu Adesina, has promised to build 20 additional public toilets even as he warned residents against open defecation.
He said violators will be prosecuted.
Adesina said this on Sunday, during the commemoration of world Toilet Day with theme: “Sanitation and Ground water” at the council secreteriat in Ikorodu, Lagos.
He promised to build additional 20 public toilets to compliment the existing ones at strategic places and urged residents to adhere strictly to council sanitation rules.
“I am indeed very happy and exceedingly grateful to God and the good people of Ikorodu for the constant changes and development that has enviloped our community in recent times.
“Today is world toilet day all over the world, it is believe that by today every household should have moved away from open defiication.
“As the whole world stands to eredicate open defecation, I have informed the environmental department to enforce and prosecute anybody found engaging in the act,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Mobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretery, Office of the Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environmental and Water Resources said it is a great pleasure to join millions of people across the world to commemorate the world toilet day.
Gaji said the theme is a clarion call on all stakeholders to prioritize sanitation and hygiene as the cheapest and easiest method of combating spread of diseases and control of other environmental crisis.
He said the day was set aside by the United Nations to draw attention and seek global response in tackling sanitation challenges and most importantly the menace of open defecation in the country and the World at large.
According to him, the World Toilet Day commemoration is about raising awareness and taking actions to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for all by 2030.
He said the WTO organises the World Toilet Summit (WTS) annually on the sideline of the World Toilet Day geared towards mobilising key Sector Players, NGOs and high-level decision makers to bring the issue of open defecation to greater public focus.
Gaji, represented by Mr Lasisi Adetokunbo, said Lagos state in her usual practice of taking the lead role and setting the pace for others to emulate, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also signed an Executive Order titled: Enforcement of Law and Order in Respect.
“It gives me great pleasure to join millions of people across the globe particularly millions of people to commemorate this auspicious day.
“The day is set aside by United Nations to draw attention and seek global response in tackling sanitation challenges and most importantly the menace of open defecation in the country and the World at large,” he said
Earlier, Mrs Sani Amokunmosa, Head of environmental department of the council, urged residents to continue to imbibe good and sanitary practise in order to provide environmental health to prevent diseases and prolong lives.
Amokunmosa, reiterate that the situation requires concerned efforts from both the public and private quarters in the provision of public toilets in places like the market, motor parks, schools and the road side.
Citizens Compass reports that the students from different schools display placards with different inscriptions such as; Cleaniness is next to Godliness” Good environment is equal to good health” “Your environment is your future” “Maintain your personal hygiene, etc
