The Ogun state government has issued a directive requiring all households without toilet facilities to install one within a period of three to six months, failure to comply with which will result in appropriate sanctions.
The state’s decision is aimed at tackling the recent cholera outbreak that has affected 30 states across the country.
The government has also mandated that all public and private schools, markets, parks, garages, petrol stations, and mechanic villages in the state install and maintain adequate toilet facilities and running water to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
The Special Adviser to Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.
Akinmade stated that the precautionary measures announced to the residents are to prevent any possible outbreak of cholera in the state.
He explained that the Governor was seriously concerned about the development and the need to protect the people in the state, considering the proximity of Ogun to Lagos and the degree of interactions between the two states.
Precautionary measures, including the following, “All houses must have toilets. Each house without a toilet should identify a room to be converted to a toilet. ” Residents are given three to six months of grace for compliance.
“All petrol stations must have functional public toilets with running water as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
“All garages and parks must have functional toilets with running water.
“All markets must have functional public toilets with running water.
“Mechanic villages must have functional toilets with running water.
“All schools (public and private) should have public toilets with running water,” the statement said.
In addition to these, residents of the State were also advised to adopt the following measures as a way of galvanising themselves against the disease.
The statement also said, “Drink safe water that is boiled or chlorinated; wash your hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet and before handling food; wash fruits and vegetables properly with safe water before eating and for preparing food; cook food properly. Buy and eat only hot food; use water from reliable sources, among other precautions.”
The statement added that the Ministry of Environment would see to the strict compliance of all the measures as violators would be made to face the wrath of law accordingly.
