The Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the state government to make it compulsory for owners of major commercial properties across the Ibadan metropolis to provide accessible, hygienic and functional public toilet facilities as part of efforts to curb open defecation and improve environmental sanitation.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ibadan South-West State Constituency II, Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi, during Tuesday’s plenary.
The motion, titled “Need for the Executive Arm of Government to Mandate Major Commercial Properties Within Ibadan Metropolis to Provide Public Toilet Facilities to Curb Open Defecation,” received the unanimous support of members of the House.
While presenting the motion, Oluwafowokanmi described open defecation as a major environmental and public health challenge that continues to expose residents to communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. He noted that the practice not only threatens public health but also degrades the environment and tarnishes the image of Oyo State.
The lawmaker commended the efforts of the Oyo State Government and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources towards improving environmental sanitation. However, he expressed concern over the inadequate availability of affordable public toilets in strategic locations, including markets, motor parks, commercial centres and major road corridors, describing the situation as a setback to the state’s sanitation goals.
According to him, several developed countries and some Nigerian cities have successfully tackled the problem by making it mandatory for owners of commercial establishments such as filling stations, shopping malls, hotels, eateries, parks and event centres to provide clean and functional toilet facilities for public use, either free of charge or at subsidised rates.
He argued that making public toilets a compulsory civic responsibility for owners of major commercial facilities would significantly reduce open defecation and support Oyo State’s quest to attain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in line with the Federal Government’s target and the objectives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Oluwafowokanmi further observed that the absence of public conveniences in busy commercial hubs, including Iwo Road, Dugbe, Challenge, Molete, Idi Arere, Beere, Oje, Gate, Mokola, Bodija and Ojoo, often leaves residents, commuters, travellers and commercial drivers with no option but to defecate in open spaces, thereby posing serious health and environmental risks.
He stressed that the fight against open defecation should not be the responsibility of government alone, urging private organisations and citizens to support efforts aimed at promoting a cleaner and healthier environment.
Following extensive deliberations, the Assembly called on the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), to compel owners of major and viable commercial properties located along highways and within the Ibadan metropolis to provide and maintain functional public toilet facilities with regular water supply in line with approved sanitary standards.
The lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to make the provision of public convenience facilities a mandatory requirement for building approvals and renewal of permits for commercial properties.
In addition, the House called on the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to direct Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the Ibadan metropolis to partner with private investors to construct and manage modern pay-per-use public toilets at strategic commercial locations.
The Assembly further urged the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to direct the Oyo State Environmental Task Force to strictly enforce compliance with the proposed policy through regular inspections and monitoring of commercial facilities.
It also appealed to the Ministry of Information and Orientation, in collaboration with RUWASSA, to intensify public awareness campaigns on the dangers of open defecation and educate residents on the availability and proper use of public toilet facilities.
As part of its resolutions, the House mandated its Committee on Environment, Water Resources and Ecology to carry out oversight visits and submit a comprehensive report within 90 days on the level of compliance by commercial property owners with the proposed provision of public toilet facilities across the Ibadan metropolis.
Meanwhile, the House said the resolutions form part of efforts to improve governance and address environmental challenges in the state. The Assembly also announced that it will proceed on its annual recess from July 1 to August 18.
