The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called on community leaders, religious bodies, and other stakeholders to take ownership of the campaign against open defecation.
Sanwo-Olu made the call at the flag-off ceremony of the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) and Hygiene Behaviour Change campaign on Thursday at the Music Village in Ikorodu area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Forum and Water Aid Nigeria.
The programme has the theme: “Lagos State Open Defecation-Free Campaign Enhances Dignity, Protects Public Health.”
Represented by the Wife of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mineral Resources, Mrs Victoria Olowu, Sanwo-Olu said that there was no dignity in open defecation.
She said that true dignity lay in having access to clean toilets and safe hygiene practices for everyone.
The wife of the governor said that open defecation could result in the spread of cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and other infectious diseases.
“Open defecation can lead to environmental degradation, which affects our water sources and pollutes our shared spaces.
“The campaign against open defecation is aimed at fostering a healthier, more dignified and environmentally responsible society.
“As we are aware, open defecation is not just a rural issue, it affects urban spaces, markets, motor parks, slums, and even some of our communities right here in Lagos.
“Apart from the negative environmental impacts, open defecation strips us of our dignity, endangers our health, and undermines our aspirations for a cleaner, smarter and safer Lagos,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the public to intensify awareness campaigns on the use of clean, safe, and accessible public toilets in markets, motor parks, schools, public institutions, and in every community.
She said that the availability and use of decent sanitation facilities must become the new normal and encouraged households to build toilets, support the maintenance of public sanitation facilities, and demand hygiene wherever they go.
According to her, the days of defecating in bushes, on beaches and behind buildings must come to an end.
“The campaign is timely and important. We must intensify awareness about the use of clean, safe and accessible public toilets.
“Together, let us spread awareness, not diseases. Let us build toilets, not excuses. Let us move Lagos forward.
“One clean, safe and dignified step at a time,” she said.
In her remarks, the Representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs Chizoba Opara, said the campaign signified a renewed commitment to improving public health, protecting the environment and restoring dignity to every Lagos resident.
Opara, who is also the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign, said that the Use the Toilet campaign, which was launched in 2019 with Executive Order 009, had made tremendous progress in ending open defecation in the country.
Similarly, Mr John Olla, the Director of Policy Advocacy and Campaign Officer, Save the Children International, commended the organisers of the campaign for the bold step toward an open defecation-free Lagos.
“At Save the Children, we believe that access to clean water, safe sanitation and proper hygiene is every child’s right,” he said.
NAN reports that Sanwo-Olu was decorated as a Clean Lagos Ambassador, while a commitment accord was signed by the chairmen of the local government and the local council development areas in Ikorodu.
