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The Federal Government has been urged to construct decent public toilets along Abuja -Lokoja-Okene and Lokoja -Ayingba -Ankpa highways to curb open defecation by travelers and people living in communities along the routes.
The Justice and Peace Development Commission (JPDC) made the call in a statement it issued in Lokoja on Monday to commemorate this year’s World Toilet Day.
The statement jointly issued by the Lokoja/Idah dioceses of the JDPC said that having toilets along the routes will serve the interest of travelers and residents of the various communities who are daily being forced to resort to open defecation.
According to the statement signed by Rev Fr Leonard Odomeja, the Coordinator Lokoja diocese of JPDC , the toilets will put paid to the embarrassment being faced by the country on daily basis as a result of the practice.
It said both Federal and Kogi State government should collaborate to construct the toilets at strategic points along the roads.
“ Kogi State is bordered by the federal capital territory and 10 states which makes Lokoja, the state capital a convergence point for people traveling to and from the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria,” Odomeja said.
The JPDC, which is an NGO arm of the Catholic Church also called on transport companies, transport unions and other stakeholders to join hands with government in providing toilets for vehicle passengers and other road users
Odomeja in the statement reminded house owners of the need to provide toilet facilities in their houses as stipulated in town planning laws, urging relevant government agencies to ensure that landlords comply with this provision.
The JPDC is currently working to improve water , sanitation and hygiene in 13 communities in Kogi State.
It urged Nigerians to improve upon their personal hygiene by refraining from open defecation to curb the spread of communicable diseases.
“ Kogi state government and the various local governments are also admonished to collaborate to end the water crisis rocking many communities in the state.
“ With the numerous water bodies in the state there was no need for Kogi state to experience this high level of water deficit in the state,” he said.
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