Some residents of Kano have expressed support for the state Assembly’s recent approval of a Bill aimed at addressing public littering and open defecation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Assembly, on Tuesday, passed a Bill on Landscaping and Beautification Agency.

The new legislation was passed with overwhelming backing of the state assembly.

The bill imposes a fine of N25,000 on anyone caught littering, urinating, or defecating in public places.

This followed deliberations on the committee of the whole and third reading of the bill by the Deputy Clerk, Alhaji Nasiru Magaji, during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Jibril Isma’il Falgore.

The assembly agreed that the agency established by the bill will be responsible for setting up gardens, planting of flowers, and preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The agency will be governed by a board comprising a chairman and 10 members, including professionals, who are knowledgeable in engineering and beautification.

Some residents, therefore, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the Bill, when signed into law, would promote and impact on public health and the overall cleanliness of their neighborhoods.

A resident of Tarauni, Abdulsalam Muhammad, said that the local communities have long raised concerns over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and public hygiene.

Muhammad noted that the bill is in response to increased unsanitary practices in the metropolis.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy and respectful public space for all residents.

A resident of Nasarawa, Muhammad Kabir, who described the Bill as a step in the right direction, said that streets have been increasingly littered and unhygienic, from the behavior of residents.

According to him, the Bill, if assented to by the governor, will help to restore the dignity of the city.

Another resident, Ibrahim Umar, also lauded the state Assembly for approving the bill, aimed at curbing public littering and open defecation.

An Environmentalist, Baba Ali, said that the Bill would not only enhance the quality of life of residents, but also create safer, pleasant environment, particularly under bridges and abandoned spaces.

“The move is long overdue and I hope it will lead to stringent enforcement and public awareness of cleanliness,” he explained.

He, however, called on the state government to build public conveniences to enable residents to ease themselves as they go about their businesses.

He explained that “it is the lack of functional standard toilets that makes people to defecate in the open, not minding the effects of their action.”

He also urged the government to evolve measures to ensure standard refuse evacuation and disposal, while defaulters are sanctioned or fined for their actions.