The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed the Open Defecation Prohibition Bill as part of efforts to strengthen sanitation standards and safeguard public health in the state.
The legislation seeks to outlaw open defecation in public places and promote the use of proper toilet facilities across the state.
The bill was passed after the House considered and adopted the report of its Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, presented by the committee chairman, Kingsley Ntui, representing Etung State Constituency.
Presenting the report, Ntui said the bill was necessary to address the sanitation challenge, noting that about 47 million people in Nigeria still practise open defecation.
He warned that the practice poses serious health risks, including the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid.
Ntui commended the state government for efforts aimed at ending open defecation, adding that development partners such as UNICEF and Self Help Africa have been supporting sanitation initiatives in the state.
According to him, eight local government areas in the state have already been declared open defecation-free.
He, however, identified major challenges hindering the attainment of open defecation-free status across the state to include inadequate sanitation infrastructure, limited access to clean water, poverty and low public awareness.
The lawmaker urged his colleagues to support the initiative in their respective constituencies by promoting investments in sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate said the bill aligns with national and global efforts to eradicate open defecation, noting that its passage would enhance environmental cleanliness and improve the overall wellbeing of residents.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, commended the committee for what he described as a thorough job.
Ayambem expressed satisfaction with the passage of the bill, saying it would help create a cleaner and healthier environment for residents.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to promoting sanitation standards and improving the welfare of citizens through people-oriented legislation.
