Gombe State Calls for Open Defecation Ban, Tougher Laws

Law students in Gombe State call for a stronger open defecation ban and tougher laws to improve sanitation and public health

A group of law students from Gombe State University has called on the government to enforce a Gombe State open defecation ban with criminal penalties and support climate-resilient sanitation systems.

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The students made this call during a UNICEF-organized public sensitisation event at the Teachers Resource Center in Kwami, held in partnership with the Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).

The initiative supports the state’s goal to become Open Defecation Free through sustainable sanitation systems.

Speaking for her group, Zainab Sani said open defecation violates both public health and human rights, referencing the UN’s 2010 declaration that access to clean water, sanitation, and a healthy environment is a basic human right.

The students unveiled the draft Gombe State Open Defecation Prohibition and Public Sanitation Bill, 2025, which proposes criminalizing open defecation, mandating public toilet construction, and imposing fines or community sanitation service penalties for offenders.

Gombe State Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Hon. Saidu Fawu, praised the effort and highlighted the need for safe, climate-smart faecal waste management to prevent environmental hazards.

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UNICEF’s Nandam Michael Dawop stressed that enforcement policies are critical, saying, “It’s not just about building toilets but ensuring they are used and maintained sustainably.”