Plateau Commences Final Crackdown On Houses Without Functional Toilets

Plateau State government has commenced a final crackdown on houses in Jos South Local Government Area without functional toilet facilities, giving affected households seven days to comply or face prosecution.

The enforcement is being carried out by the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency, PEPSA, following sustained efforts to secure compliance through community engagements, public enlightenment and support to vulnerable households under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH, programme.

PEPSA, in a statement signed by the Director-General, Samuel Nathaniel Dapiya, said it had commenced serving final abatement notices to houses that had yet to provide functional toilet facilities.

The statement said PEPSA had previously engaged communities and households, educated residents on the importance of having and using proper toilet facilities, and advocated household-led provision of toilets.

It said the agency had also held meetings with community leaders and household representatives as part of efforts to improve sanitation compliance.

The statement further said that PEPSA had provided support to vulnerable households facing challenges in providing toilet facilities.

It said: “Where the need was identified, PEPSA supported such households by constructing new toilet facilities and upgrading existing ones to help address their sanitation needs.

“These interventions have been part of a deliberate effort to give households the opportunity, information and support required to comply with sanitation standards.

“However, despite these engagements and interventions, some households still do not have functional toilet facilities. “PEPSA has therefore reached the final stage of the compliance process.”

“The abatement notices being served give affected households seven days from the date of service to provide a functional toilet facility and comply with the applicable sanitation requirements.

“At the expiration of the seven-day period, prosecution will commence against households that remain non-compliant, in accordance with the law.

“The Agency is therefore calling on every household that is yet to provide a functional toilet facility to use this final seven-day compliance period to take immediate action.”

“PEPSA has engaged, educated, advocated and provided support where necessary. The next step is enforcement.”

“Following the expiration of the notice period, the Agency will enforce the sanitation standards required across the affected communities in accordance with the law.”