World Toilet Day: Open Defecation Violates Rivers People’s Dignity – NOA

As Rivers State joined the rest of the world to mark the 2020 World Toilet Day last Thursday, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, (NOA), Mr Young Ayotamuno, says open defecation violates the dignity of Rivers people.
World Toilet Day is celebrated 19th November every year.
Theme for this year’s celebration was “Sustainable Sanitation And Climate Change”. Speaking in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, Ayotamuno said Rivers people are known for their pride and cannot continue to defecate openly.
“One thing I know Rivers people for, is their pride. We are a proud people and bringing out our bodies to defecate openly violates that pride and dignity”.
He said the situation could also derail investment and harm the tourism potentials of the state.
The NOA director however admitted that eradicating the menace in the rural areas will be difficult as most rural dwellers see it as a normal way of life.
He said the agency has mounted serious campaigns and sensitisation programmes to change the trend stressing that in some, local government areas such as Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor, public conveniences are springing up, especially around market places and motor parks. He however advised the two local government areas to ensure that the conveniences are properly put to use.
Ayotamuno also said the pier latrine system in the riverine areas of the state, though outdated, is being improved upon.
According to him, in line with executive order 009, signed by President Buhari in 2019, to end open defecation by 2025, every public building in the country must have a public convenience and stressed the need for sanctions against those violating that order.
He also expressed optimism that Nigeria may attain the target date of 2025 if enough awareness is created across the country.