The Lagos State
Government, over the weekend, trained and rallied Public Toilet Operators on
new sanitation techniques and operations for efficient service delivery in the
state.
Addressing participants
during the Training Workshop for Public Toilets Operators and Janitors in Lagos
State held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja, the Special
Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu reiterated the government's
commitment to eradicating open defecation and other environmental nuisances to
reduce vulnerability to disease outbreaks and promote social security across
the metropolis.
Akodu said the State
Government recognises the crucial role of janitors and public toilet operators
and the need to build capacity to meet the challenges of service delivery in
tandem with the T.H.E.M.E.S plus agenda of the present administration.
He added that the
training was aimed at inculcating best practices in toilet management with a
focus on eradicating Open Defecation in line with the Federal Government's
target of achieving Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025, adding that the State
Government adopted the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” Campaign flagged off in
2021.
He stressed that the
Campaign has been taken to the grassroots and launched in 11 Local Government
Areas across the State, noting that the campaign is in addition to regular
Sanitation Advocacy programmes being carried out in Markets and Communities
across the State.
Akodu maintained that
the Government is determined to deal decisively with anyone engaging in Open
Defecation in accordance with the extant laws of the State.
According to him, Lagos
will not use billions to build infrastructure and some people will mess it up.
Lagos has taken it upon itself to recruit officers that will man the different
areas, especially the Berger area so that it will not degenerate.
"Enforcers have
started arresting people who defecate on the median along Lagos/Ibadan
Expressway (Lagos Axis) and they will be prosecuted accordingly. I hope this
will put fear amongst other culprits. I will use this opportunity to appeal to
the government of Ogun state to take it from where Lagos stopped and do same on
enforcement as Lagos government is doing so that open defecation will be
brought to the barest minimal", he said.
He explained that the
Government, in addressing the trend of Open Defecation across the State, developed
a four cardinal points roadmap, which are Advocacy, Regularization and
standardization, Bridging the gap and Monitoring, as well as Evaluation and
Enforcement.
Akodu added that the
training workshop comes under regularisation and standardisation, saying the
Ministry has also rolled out a comprehensive operational guideline to guide the
operation of public toilets in the State.
He informed the
participants that the present administration has decided to construct 100 Units
of Public toilets across strategic locations in the State to bridge the
infrastructural gap.
He said the ongoing
training workshop and capacity building was to equip operators with the skills
and knowledge required to excel in their roles for a sustainable environment
and to ensure access to clean and welcoming toilets thereby encouraging
positive behavioural change.
He emphasised that the
workshop was organised to expose toilet operators to global standards,
guidelines and best practices for public toilet operation and maintenance, which
will not only benefit the participants but also improve the state of the
environment and health in the State.
Earlier in his remarks,
the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Tajudeen Gaji
noted that the Government is committed and would continue to ensure good
working conditions for toilet operators and janitors.
The Permanent Secretary
who spoke through the Director of Sanitation Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, added
that the workshop topics focused on Promoting Clean, Safe and hygienic toilet
facilities - the role of Government and proper hygiene practices and Sanitation
techniques for public operators and janitors.