The Lagos State Government has called on public toilet operators to properly manage their toilet facilities as this will help curb open defecation in the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Omobolaji Gaji, made this call on Tuesday during a one-day training workshop organised by the ministry in collaboration with A-Mobile Toilets in Alausa, Ikeja.
Gaji, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Sanitation, Mr Hassan Sanuth, stated that regular advocacy and proper management of public toilets will also help the government in its policies.
He said, “This programme has become necessary as one of the cardinal actions of the state to achieve the open defecation target of 2025. As part of the focus of the state in relation to this, we have activities that include regular advocacy and enlightenment, particularly during the World Toilet Day celebration, and standardising public toilets in the state.
“We will not only register you, we also want to improve the way you work and by so doing, increase the patronage of public toilets and reduce open defecation. If public toilets are well managed, they will help business owners, the government as a policy regulator and reduce environmental pollution.”
The Chief Operating Officer of A-Mobile Toilets Limited, Mrs Damilola Oloruntade, charged operators on the need to avoid bad toilet practices.
“Some of these bad toilet practices include wrong location, untrained staff, lack of appropriate equipment, disposing of waste in drains or the environment, and lack of maintenance. This is why there is a need to adhere to all laid down state guidelines in order to tackle open defecation in our state and country,” she said.
