Oyo Muslim Woman Association propose Strict Penalty for Open Defecation

Oyo state chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has called on political leaders to engage in a continued orientation for people against the disadvantages of open defecation.



The state chairwoman; Alhaja Bushurah Oloso, publicized this to newsmen on Tuesday while addressing newsmen ahead of 2021 FOMWAN WEEK with the theme: “My Community, My Pride: Promoting General Well-being & Stopping Open Defecation”.


She said: “The answer is not farfetched. A healthy people is a healthy community and a happy nation. We are concerned about the inglorious report that places Nigeria as the first among countries with the prevalence of open defecation in the world.


“That report was presented by UNICEF, and it added that about 47 million Nigerians practice open defecation. This gives cause for concern.



“To show the seriousness of the crisis and the problem at hand, the Nigerian President in November 2018 declared a state of emergency in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.”


Alhaja Oloso asserted that the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) is taking the anti-open defecation campaign to communities to assess the problem.


She said: “We will be suggesting to the appropriate Community heads, market leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders the need to make provision for more facilities local and modern for people at home and workplaces to use to dispose of their faeces.”



“It is worthy of note that Islam emphasizes personal and environmental cleanliness as every time and place is for worship, a clean environment promotes good religious habits.”



The Chairwoman indicated that FOMWAN is also proposing harsh punitive measures to discourage open defecation, noting that some states have already passed laws prohibiting open defecation.



“In line with this, we want to commend the Oyo State House of Assembly for making open defecation a punishable offense.


The House in December 2020 passed the Oyo State Open Defecation Bill, 2020 which when assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde prescribes a fine of #5000 for anyone who defecated in the open in any part of the State.



“Also, anyone who owns a property and does not provide toilet facility within three months from the commencement of the bill commits an offense and he/she is liable on conviction for three months imprisonment or a fine of #50,000 or both.”