Lagos State government has warned residents against open defecation and reiterated the necessity of promoting sanitation habits.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services in the state’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Gaji Omobolaji, gave the charge at Agege Local Council Secretariat during a meeting with community and religious leaders.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by a Director in the Office of Sanitation Services, Ola Okeseni, called on all who still engage in open defecation to desist from doing so.

He noted that the state adopted decentralisation of the campaign against open defecation and use of toilets to reach the hinterlands.

According to him, the state’s mandate to eradicate open defecation is embedded in Pillar 1, Goal 2 initiatives of the Lagos resilience strategy document, which focuses on “improve access to clean water and sanitation.”

He listed the initiatives as provision of public toilets and bathrooms in each Local Council and Local Council Development Area (LCDA); construction of community wastewater treatment plants; development of an integrated waste management system; and expansion and protection of water sources to improve the city’s water supply.

He said: “It is my hope that in view of the importance of this campaign to our national developmental process and meeting the goal of eradicating open defecation by 2025, I strongly believe that this campaign and other initiatives of this present administration will contribute to the success of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.”

Omobolaji said the sensitisation technique is driving tools in achieving an open defecation free Lagos, stressing that the campaign must be people-centered and community-based.

He emphasised that community engagement with relevant stakeholders, especially in the vulnerable communities was of high priority, adding that despite the success of the campaign, challenges ranging from no budgetary allocation to lack of political will have confronted the campaign.

According to him, there is a need for political support from Local Councils to cascade the policy to the people, who are the direct beneficiaries.