Toyosi Sanusi and Idowu Oyelere
Pedestrians along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have decried the alarming increase in open defecation on the highway
PUNCH Metro gathered that open defecation is rampant from Warewa to Mowe in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, which has become a public health concern.
The culverts along the expressway have now become spots for defecation by miscreants, who live in the area.
During an on-the-spot assessment on Thursday, our correspondent saw various faeces along the culverts with strong smells that ooze from them which were dangerous for the personal hygiene.
PUNCH Metro also observed as pedestrians who in the hope to cross the expressway covered their noses in a bid to bear the smell before safely crossing to the other side of the road.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the pedestrians, Joshua Adeyemo, expressed his frustration saying, “It’s just too much, you have to be careful before crossing into the demarcation because you may step on faeces. Early in the morning, you’ll see them here, plenty of them in different spots defecating. It’s just irritating.”
Another pedestrian who simply gave his name as Taiwo recounted his experience saying, “It’s a common trend here, from Arepo to Magboro. I don’t know about other areas but here, you’ll see it plenty. I stepped on faeces while heading home one day. I didn’t notice until I entered into the bus. It was so embarrassing. Since then, I am always careful when crossing this road.”
When contacted by our correspondent, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said, “We are working jointly with the community leaders and the law enforcement agents. We are also going to provide more public toilets within the area and ensure responsible usage.”
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