By FEMI AKINOLA
In the past couple of months, Lagos State Government has stepped -up campaign to end open defecation in the state by arresting people that defecate and urinate in the open particularly on the median in the border area with neighbouring Ogun State.
The State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources through the State Environmental Sanitation Corps, have arrested no fewer than 40 individuals in the past three months for open defecation and urination which are violation of the state environmenatl laws.
The offenders were arrested during a patrol and monitoring exercise along the border areas where there are motorparks with few number of public toilets. The open defecation has been infraction of the state environmental laws which is yet to be abated in spite of government efforts to put an end to the act.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has repeatedly given information on arrest of people who defecate in various part of the state in his numerous messages posted on his X.com handle.
NatureNews can report that Lagos and neighbouring Ogun state governments has announced weeks ago their plans to enforce and prosecute individuals engaging in open defecation, particularly in border communities they both shared.
Last week, Lagos government officials led by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji,
started anti – open defecation enforcement in Berger rea along the common border area between the state and Ogun and 14 offenders who defecated and urinated in the open were apprehended.
Speaking during an advocacy exercise that preceeded the enforcement activities, the Permanent Secretary said the enforcement action was aimed at preventing the spread of
avoidable communicabale diseases like cholera and diarrhea in Lagos State.
Gaji added that the enforcement team would work in shifts to apprehend and prosecute open defecators along the road median. He said open defecation and urination is not acceptable anywhere in Lagos territory noting that to put an end to the menace, it requires a lasting solution to totally eradicate pollution act which was why the state has resorted to enforcement and prosecution after the sensitisation exercise.
Recalled that in April, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, disclosed that the state government will stepped up campaign to end open defecation in the state. He reiterated the government determination to intensify the use of toilets and good hygiene practices in every community and location across the state.
Gaji stated this during the flag- off of Clean Nigeria: ‘Use the Toilet’ campaign held at the OjoLocal Government Area of the state. He maintained that anyone caught defecating in the open will face the wrath of law to serve as deterrent to others.
NatureNews checks at the Berger area shows that there are more than 10 toilet facilities within the motorparks in the area, particularly within the premises of a Total filling station in the vicinity aside and Berger bus stop garage.
What was observed at the large Berger bus garage is that many people who are travelling outside Lagos to other states across the country are the major offender of open defecation and urination in the area.
In addition, the available toilets is not enough for the number of people that passes through different motorparks within Berger area. Dr. Gaji has said the government is aware the number of public toilets in the area is far from being enough.
He said plan is underway by the state government to construct more toilets that will have their own water treatment plant and will be able to recycle their waste water so that the whole ecosystem can be preserved.