An appeal has gone to the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to, as a matter of urgency, sign the Oyo State Open Defecation Bill into law.
A non-profit and network of women organizations, Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) made the call in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The organization also called on corporate organizations, religious bodies, socio-cultural associations and other relevant stakeholders to embark on an aggressive campaign and on construction of public toilets and latrines to reduce the practice of open defecation in the state.
The call was to commemorate the 2021 FOMWAN Week tagged “My Community, My Pride: Promoting General Well-being & Stopping Open Defecation.
While speaking at the press conference to herald the week, the FOMWAN Oyo State Amira, Alhaja (Dr.) Bushura Oloso, disclosed that this year’s week is focusing on the health and wellness of the people hence the theme “My Community, My Pride: Promoting General Well-being & Stopping Open Defecation.”
According to her, “what informed our theme, and why we decided as a religious body to lend our voice to the global campaign to end open defecation?
“The answer is not farfetched. A healthy people is a healthy community and a happy nation. We are concerned about the inglorious report that places Nigeria as the first among countries with the prevalence of open defecation in the world. That report was presented by UNICEF, and it added that about 47million Nigerians practice open defecation. This really gives cause for concern.
“To show the seriousness of the crisis and the problem at hand, the Nigerian President in November, 2018 declared a state of emergency in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
“Unfortunately, this unhealthy practice is prevalent in both our rural and urban communities.
“It is worthy of note that Islam emphasizes personal and environmental cleanliness as every time and place is for worship, a clean environment promotes good religious habits.
“The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) is taking the campaign against open defecation to our adopted communities with a view to assessing the problem in the areas, and educating the residents on the effects of indiscriminate practice of open defecation,” she said.
Alhaja Oloso added that the association will engage all relevant stakeholders including community heads, market leaders, elected officials on the need to make provision for more facilities for the people at various communities to dispose their defecate.
While commending the Oyo State House of Assembly for the passage of law that prohibit open defecation, she appealed to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to as a matter of urgency give his assent to the bill and make it a punishable offence.
“At FOMWAN, we are going to key into this campaign and work with other socio-religious associations across the country towards ending open defecation and ultimately enhancing the well-being of Nigerians.
“This campaign to end open defecation will surely not be a one off thing as FOMWAN is set to make it a continuous effort in all our chapters, branches and affiliates.
“I therefore, charge the Nigerian government at all levels, to intensify campaigns on both the conventional and social media on the need for people to desist from the habit as it contaminates the environment, spreads diseases, it is community unfriendly and promotes un-wellness for the people.
“I call on corporate organizations, religious bodies, socio-cultural associations and other stakeholders to embark on an aggressive campaign and on the construction of public toilets and latrines in areas devoid of thisfacilities so as to reduce the harmful practice and redeem the image of our dear country in the international community of nations.
“This is the best time for us to adopt best practice in waste disposal.
“FOMWAN is also advocating stringent punitive measures to discourage the practice. We want to commend the Oyo State House of Assembly for making open defecation a punishable offence. The House in December, 2020 passed the Oyo State Open Defecation Bill, 2020 which when assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde prescribes a fine of #5000 for anyone who defecated in the open in any part of the State. Also , anyone who owns a property and does not provide toilet facility within three months from the commencement of the bill , commits an offence and he/she is liable on conviction for three months imprisonment or a fine of #50,000 or both,” Oloso stated.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
