Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe

The Lagos State Government has disclosed plans to build public toilets so as to discourage open defeacation and urination.

The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, who disclosed this on Monday, also urged the residents of the state to cultivate healthy toilet practices.

He explained that healthy toilet practices would help to reduce the government’s expenditure on treatment of diseases and make more money available for other important public uses.

Bello made the call in a message to mark this year’s World Toilet Day with the theme, ‘Leaving No One Behind.’

He said, “Water and sanitation crisis has claimed more lives than all the wars of the 20th century combined. One out of five children dies of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and cholera, among other diseases.

“This staggering statistics, no doubt, call for urgent action among all stakeholders to prioritise toilet and sanitation issues, enhance access to water and sanitation facilities as well as spread awareness of the ills of undesirable sanitation practices.

“Sanitation and toilet issues require urgent actions to stem the tide of diseases and bring about a healthy citizenry.”

The commissioner government would partner public institutions in the state to build and maintain clean toilets and ensure free access to such facilities.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]