The Ogun State Government has officially banned open urination and defecation as part of its efforts to eliminate these practices and ensure proper sanitation across the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, announced this development while commissioning four newly built public toilets equipped with bio-digesters. These facilities were handed over to the communities of Berger, Isheri, Warewa, and Magboro, all located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. This initiative was part of the state’s activities to mark World Toilet Day.
With these new additions, the total number of public toilets in the area has risen to 20, and the statewide count now stands at 80. The goal is to eradicate open defecation and achieve a clean, open defecation-free environment throughout the state.
Oresanya explained that outlawing open urination and defecation supports the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which focuses on universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. He also revealed that the government would intensify enforcement efforts and impose strict penalties on violators to maintain compliance.
He added that these measures would improve the state’s environmental appearance and promote public health and overall well-being.
Adeyinka Oyediran, who collaborated with the government to construct the Magboro public toilet, stated that the facility would not only put an end to open defecation but also help reduce the spread of communicable diseases in the community.
Abdulmalik Audu, a trader at Kara Market, urged market users to utilize the nearby public toilet, emphasizing the importance of adopting the state’s initiatives to create a cleaner and healthier environment.
