Residents To Pay N5,000 Fine Over Open Defecation In Anambra

ANAMBRA - Residents of Idemili South council area of Anambra state have been cautioned against open defecation and other unhygenic practices across various communities of the council.

The Chairman, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM), Oba Ward 1, Idemili South, Godwin Uche gave the advice yesterday at the council headquarters in Ojoto during the formation of WASHCOM federation.

He warned that anybody caught defeating opening in any part of the community would pay a fine of N5,000.

Uche explained that the decision on the penalty fine on defaulters was one way of checkmating the ugly trend.

He said, “We move round to make sure these buildings have toilet facility or eject the strangers living there.

“Those caught defecating in my community are fined N5,000 or you dig the surface and bury your faeces.”

He regretted that efforts of the committee to ensure the communities attain the open defecation free status were being frustrated by strangers and those he termed illiterates.

He explained that the decision on the penalty fine on defaulters was one way of checkmating the ugly trend.

“We’ve had an influx of strangers due to urbanization. People from various states are moving into our communities.

“Uncompleted buildings are being occupied by these strangers and some of the buildings lack toilet facilities,” he decried.

He added, “We have so many illiterates in the community who hardly understand what we are saying.

“Traditionally, our people like defecating in the open. It has been a culture. Eradicating it has not been easy, though it is reducing gradually.”

Earlier, the Community mobilization officer (CMO), Okpaladinobi Chinwoke, RUWASSA, said the formation of WASHCOM federation was to ensure sustainability of the WASH activities.

“One of the greatest challenges of WASH programme is sustainability. We hope that after the establishment of WASHCOM federation there would be a great improvement in the communities,” she noted.