The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the Executive Arm of Government to introduce a policy mandating owners of major commercial properties across the Ibadan metropolis to provide accessible, hygienic and functional public toilet facilities as part of efforts to eliminate open defecation and improve environmental sanitation.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion presented during Tuesday’s plenary by the lawmaker representing Ibadan Southwest State Constituency II, Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi.
The motion, titled “Need for the Executive Arm of Government to Mandate Major Commercial Properties Within Ibadan Metropolis to Provide Public Toilet Facilities to Curb Open Defecation,” received the support of members of the House.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Oluwafowokanmi described open defecation as a major environmental and public health concern that continues to pose serious health risks to residents through the spread of communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.
He noted that the practice also degrades the environment and undermines the image of Oyo State.
The lawmaker acknowledged the efforts of the Oyo State Government and relevant agencies, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, towards improving environmental sanitation.
He, however, observed that the inadequate availability of accessible and affordable public toilet facilities in strategic locations such as markets, motor parks, commercial centres and major road corridors has continued to frustrate the state’s drive towards achieving a cleaner and healthier environment.
According to him, several developed countries and some Nigerian cities have successfully addressed the challenge by making it compulsory for owners of commercial establishments, including filling stations, shopping malls, hotels, eateries, parks and event centres, to provide clean and functional toilet facilities for public use either free of charge or at subsidised rates.
He argued that making the provision of public toilets a civic obligation for owners of major commercial facilities would significantly reduce open defecation and move Oyo State closer to attaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in line with the targets of the Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Hon. Oluwafowokanmi further observed that the absence of public conveniences in busy locations such as Iwo Road, Dugbe, Challenge, Molete, Idi Arere, Beere, Oje, Gate, Mokola, Bodija and Ojoo, among other parts of Ibadan, often leaves residents, commuters, travellers and commercial drivers with no option but to defecate openly, thereby endangering public health and polluting the environment.
He stressed that the campaign against open defecation should not be left to government alone, noting that private institutions and citizens also have important roles to play in ensuring a cleaner and healthier society.
Following deliberations, the House urged the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), to mandate owners of major and viable commercial properties located along highways and within the Ibadan metropolis to provide and maintain accessible public toilet facilities with regular water supply in accordance with approved sanitary standards.
The lawmakers also called on the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to incorporate the provision of public convenience facilities into the building approval and renewal processes for commercial properties.
The House further urged the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to direct Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the Ibadan metropolis to partner with private investors for the construction and management of modern pay-per-use public toilets at strategic commercial locations.
In addition, the Assembly called on the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to direct the Oyo State Environmental Task Force to ensure strict enforcement of the proposed policy through regular inspections and monitoring to guarantee compliance with hygiene standards.
The House also appealed to the Ministry of Information and Orientation, in collaboration with RUWASSA, to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on the health implications of open defecation while educating residents on the availability and proper use of public toilet facilities to encourage positive behavioural change.
As part of its resolutions, the Assembly directed its Committee on Environment, Water Resources and Ecology to embark on oversight visits and submit a comprehensive report within ninety days on the level of compliance by commercial property owners with the provision of public toilet facilities across the Ibadan metropolis.
