Lagos state government, has vowed to deal decisively with anybody caught defecating in the public, because the state has provided over 4,710 public toilets that the people can use when they want to ease themselves.
This was said by the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during a ministerial press briefing held in Alausa on Friday to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commissioner said the state government provided 1,710 public toilets, petrol and gas stations provided 3,000 public toilets, 150 toilets were provided in the markets in the state, while the state is working on providing additional 250 public toilets in the markets in the state through a public private sector participation (PSP) arrangement.
Wahab added that the state government needs to embark on a lot of advocacy and enlightenment programme for members of the public to enforce ban on open defecation.
He maintained that enforcement is a way to make people change from bad behaviour. “Why are people not making use of the public toilet,people must be responsible? he asked.
Speaking on failure of officials of the Lagos state Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to pick refuse deposited at designated place for refuse dumping for members of the public on time, he said his ministry would have a meeting with LAWMA officials and members of the PSP working with LAWMA on it and come up with a solution to the challenges facing members of the public on disposing refuse.
Speaking on rampant digging of boreholes by residents of the state, Wahab noted that if the rate was not regulated, it would add to the problems in the state in future.