Some stakeholders in the health and environment sectors have advocated an upward review of a proposed fine of five thousand naira for violators of open defecation prohibition bill 2020, when passed into law by the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Some of the participants while submitting their memorandum to the committee on environment and ecology during a public hearing on the bill, suggested a mimimum amount of ten thousand naira fine to serve as deterrent to others.

However, for the representatives of Community Development Council, market leaders and artisan, they commended the Oyo State House of Assembly for the effort towards ensuring a safer and hygienic environment but appealled to the lawmakers to make the fine for the offenders affordable.

Contributing, representive of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Stephen Adedigba, urged the state government to make it compulsory for people holding social engagements to make provision for mobile toilets.

The Chairman, Ibadan Waste Management Authority, Mr. Moronfolu Ajilore, called for recruitment of more environmental health officers to ensure total compliance of the bill when passed into law and monitoring of toilet facilities provided.

In his address, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Muhammed. Fadeyi expressed dissatisfaction that Oyo State is rated number one among states practicing open defecation not only in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Olusola Owolabi, explained that the practices of open defecation contaminates sources of drinking water and spread diseases like cholera, diarrhea and dysentery.

The lawmaker emphasized that the idea is to key into the 2019 Presidential Executive Order on open defecation titled “The Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other Related Matters”.

The bill, jointly sponsored by the speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, deputy speaker, Mr Muhammed Fadeyi and Mr Olusola Owolabi, chairman of the committee had proposed a minimum fine of five thousand naira and or, community service as punishment for anyone who practise open defecation when the bill is passed to law.

Kehinde Mosope

pub-5160901092443552

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *