The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday said any resident of the state found guilty of defecating openly in any part of the State, will serve a one week non-custodial punishment or N5,000 fine.
The Assembly added that any person who deposit faeces in open place commits an offence and is liable to punishment.
Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Muhammed Abiodun Fadeyi who made it known to newsmen in Ibadan insisted that the punishment attached to open defecation, is sequel to a bill he sponsored at the floor of the Assembly.
The Deputy Speaker who represents Ona Ara State Constituency, said that the bill entitled, “Oyo State Open Defecation prohibition bill 2020” when becomes law will prohibit open defecation in any part of the state.
He said that any person who owns a premises and refused to provide toilet facilities within three (3) months from the commencement of the bill commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 3 months or a fine of N50,000 or both.
Fadeyi while speaking further remarked that he sponsored the bill in order to discourage open defecation and to ensure safe and hygienic environment for residents of the state.
He said that, “I have sponsored another bill, it is known as “Oyo State Open defecation prohibition bill 2020”.
This is a a bill for a law to prohibit open defecation in Oyo State and for connected purposes.
“We need to eradicate open defecation in the state. When becomes law, any person who defacates faeces in open place commits an offence and is liable to a fine of N5,000 or non-custodial punishment for one week.
“Personally on my own, this bill which is being sponsored by me, it is a law that is going to curb open defecation in Oyo State. It is at the committee level, very soon we will do a public hearing on it.
“Any person who owns a premises shall make provision for toilet facilities in such premises.
“Any person who owns a premises and refuses or fails to provide toilet facilities within 3 months from the commencement of this bill commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 3 months or a fine of N50,000 or both.”
Fadeyi while speaking on what he has been doing at the house since June 2019, maintained that he has attracted meaningful projects and has sponsored bills that are gear to improve the living standard of the residents of his constituency and the State in general.