Open Defecation: Enugu LG Chairmen Urged To Provide Facilities, Not Levies

Chairmen of the 17 local government areas in Enugu State have been advised to provide the enabling environment before imposing fines on open-defecation defaulters.

THE WHISTLER reports that the chairmen, led by the state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr Okechukwu Edeh, had projected December this year to end open defecation across the LGAs. Some chairmen, however, announced June and August this year as their deadlines.

A staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party and one-time adviser on media to the chairman of Udenu LGA, Hon Hillary Onah, said the projection was commendable but advised the chairmen to follow achievable methodologies to make the initiative realisable.

According to him, such projections without practical steps to ensure their success would amount to nothing. In his words, “I read that some LGA chairmen have announced fines to be paid by defaulters. This is a wrong step.

“I have not seen the possibilities when no measures have been put in place to end open defecation on the part of our council chairmen.

“One of the practical steps is to build toilet facilities in public places across all the communities. I am not staying at family houses.

“In my village, many families still resort to bushes for defecation, and I have not seen the shift in the practice too soon.

“Toilet facilities must also be accompanied by water facilities. I know many toilet facilities, even in primary schools and health centres, that are an eyesore. The chairmen should start from there.”

Onah, however, said the chairmen might be targeting open defecation defaulters for internally generated revenue. According to him, “The levies some of the chairmen are mentioning are outrageous. They want to turn open defecation proceeds to make money. It is a cheap way to generate revenue. In fact, it shows a lack of creativity.”

Damian Ogbodo is an investment consultant. He said, “Many of the chairmen are simply keying into the scheme to get funds from the United Nations Children’s Fund, which is the stakeholder championing ending open defecation in Nigeria.

“Trust Nigerian politicians; everything is business. Some of these chairmen can’t boast of functional toilets and borehole facilities in their respective health centres.”

Igboeze North LGA recently imposed a ₦5,000 fine on defaulters. In Igbo-Etiti LGA, the Chairmen, Mr Eric Odo, launched a prohibition bylaw to end open defecation by the end of 2025.

“Odo had, during the launch, said private individuals could invest in building toilet facilities at strategic places and collecting charges from the users, which, according to him, would create jobs.

Open Defecation: Enugu LG Chairmen Urged To Provide Facilities, Not Levies is first published on The Whistler Newspaper