The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a bill prohibiting open defecation in public places as part of efforts to improve sanitation and protect public health across the state.
The bill was approved on Thursday following the consideration of a report by the House Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, presented by its Chairman, Kingsley Ntui, who represents the Etung State Constituency.
Speaking during the deliberation, Ntui noted that about 47 million Nigerians still practise open defecation, stressing that the habit contributes to the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid.
He commended the state government for its ongoing efforts to eliminate the practice and urged lawmakers to intensify sanitation campaigns in their respective constituencies.
Ntui also revealed that, with the support of United Nations Children’s Fund and Self Help Africa, eight local government areas in the state have already been declared open defecation-free.
“However, some key challenges to achieving full open defecation-free status include poor sanitation infrastructure, limited access to clean water, poverty and low public awareness,” he said.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate said the legislation aligns with national and global efforts to eliminate open defecation and improve environmental hygiene.
They expressed confidence that the law would enhance environmental cleanliness and promote the health and well-being of residents across the state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, commended the committee for its work and welcomed the passage of the bill.
According to him, the legislation will help create a cleaner environment while reinforcing the Assembly’s commitment to people-oriented laws aimed at improving the welfare of citizens.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bill aligns with the Federal Government’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes designed to ensure safe water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2030, and to make communities across Nigeria open defecation-free.
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