The Nasararawa State Government said it has partnered with private investors to provide massive toilets in public places to end open defecation in the state.

Garba Rosha-Mohammed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, made the disclosure while briefing journalists on Saturday in Lafia after the January sanitation exercise.

The PS was represented by Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Prosecutor Officer and Director of Enforcement and Prosecution of sanitation exercise of the ministry.

Rosha-Mohammed explained that the state government had keyed into the plans of the Federal Government to end open defecation by 2030.

“The partnership is a major step towards achieving the country’s open defecation-free by 2030 with Nasarawa being the fifth in open defecation in the country,” he said.

“Already, two public toilets were under construction in Lafia, the state capital in strategic places and we want to have about 30 of them in the capital alone.

“We have public toilets in markets and motor parks, and we have put measures on the ground to ensure that high hygiene practices are maintained to guarantee the safety of users.”

He lamented that lack of access to toilets is a major challenge and has serious implications for public health and environmental sustainability.

He said that the partnership is a demonstration of the Gov. Abdullahi Sule administration’s commitment to addressing this challenge and providing a better life for the citizens.

“The toilets will be maintained and managed by the private sector partner, with the government providing regulatory oversight,” he said.

“The partnership is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life for the people of the state.”

He also called on members of the public to ensure that they provide toilets in their houses to avoid sanction.

On the January sanitation exercise, the Permanent Secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of the state.

He, however, said that 215 defaulters were apprehended across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state for transacting their private businesses during the hours of the sanitation exercise.

He called on members of the public to always keep their environments clean to guard against the outbreak of all diseases.

“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people.”