Towards maintaining a free open defecation society, Ogun State government has vowed to criminalise open urination and defecation, in order to fast track the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6; ‘Clean Water and Sanitation for All’.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, made this known, while handing-over four new public toilets with bio-digesters to communities in border towns of Berger, Isheri, Warewa and Magboro, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, making it 20 in the axis and 80 state-wide. 

Mr. Oresanya, said the measure would help in getting rid of open defecation, enhance aesthetic look of the environment and promote the well-being of residents.

“Criminalising open urination and defecation in the state will aid the attainment of SDG 6, which involves water accessibility, sanitation and hygiene for all by the year 2030. This is a signal for the commencement of massive enforcement and tough punishments for offenders in the state’’, he said.

On his part, a donor and implementing partner for the toilet facility, Omooba Adeyinka Oyediran, lauded the state government for initiating Public-Private Partnership policy for the project, saying it had created avenue for private organisations and individuals to support government in the fight against open defecation, towards ensuring reduction of communicable diseases in communities.

     Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, a trader at Kara market, Mr. Abdulmalik Audu, enjoined people in the benefitted communities to utilise the toilets for their convenience and safe health.