…Directs Sanitary Inspectors To Clamp Down On Defaulters
…2% Of Kano People Still Practice Open Defecation, Says UNICEF
KANO (North-West Nigeria) — The Federal Government has on Tuesday handed a strong warning to perpetrators of open defecation, saying practice of open defecation will no longer be business as usual.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal who gave the directive during the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Kano, directed sanitary inspectors to swing into action to clamp down on houses without toilets and perpetrators of open defecation.
Lawal who was represented by his Director, Pollution and Environment Health, Bahijja Abubakar said 47 million Nigerians still practice open defecation in bush with many institutions without sanitary facilities and where they exist they are either not functioning or misused.
He said henceforth the ministry will deploy all its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws in the country, while reiterating the commitment of the government to end the practice of open defecation.
The Minister said the practice of open defecation has negative consequences on health of the citizens, saying the outbreak of cholera and diarrhea could be linked to the practice.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf said the state government through it community led sanitation in partnership with UNICEF and community leaders it has encouraged behavioural changes and eliminated open defecation as 27 Local Government Areas have so far been declared open defecation free status in the state.
Governor Yusuf who was represented by his Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran said availability of toilets and it’s proper utilization are fundamental to ensuring a clean and healthy environment.
The Governor who described availability of toilets and it’s proper utilization as a pillar of health in preventing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, among others, however, said the administration is committed and has renovated public toilets in markets, schools and motor parks.
Earlier, in his goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field office, Rahama Farah represented by the officer in charge, Micheal Banda said only 2 per cent of the people in Kano State still practice open defecation, hence the need for concerted efforts with genuine commitments to address this problem.
Meanwhile, highlight of the event saw eight Local Government area from Kano State presented with certificate which certified them open defecation free.
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