The Kwara House of Assembly has directed chairs of the 16 local governments to prioritise the provision of latrines and other forms of toilets to curb open defecation.

The directive was part of the House’s resolutions after deliberations on a motion on notice on ‘Need to Discourage Open Defecation in Kwara State’.

The motion was moved by Bamigboye Olajire (APC/Oke-ero) and seconded by Mariam Yusuf (APC/Ilorin South) during Tuesday’s plenary.

Leading the debate, Olajire expressed worry that open defecation remained unabated in rural and urban areas.

He lamented that this was despite the state government’s efforts to ensure residents lived in a hygienic environment by building smart public lavatories.

“Open defecation triggered transmission of diarrhoea diseases like cholera, typhoid, as well as intestinal worm infection and polio. Hence, there is the need to discourage the unwholesome practice to ensure a healthy population,” the legislator said.

In their contributions, other lawmakers commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq’s administration for taking proactive action in providing smart toilets.

They said the governor’s efforts aimed to discourage open defecation and called on members of the public to complement such efforts.

While reading the house’s resolutions, the speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, urged the governor to direct the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) to sensitise the residents.

The speaker said sensitisation should focus on the dangers inherent in open defecation and ways to curb unhealthy practices.

(NAN)