The Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) has commenced the service of final abatement notices to households in Jos South Local Government Area without functional toilet facilities.
The agency said the move followed sustained efforts under the SURWASH Programme to improve sanitation compliance across communities in the local government.
According to PEPSA, it had previously engaged households and community leaders through public sensitisation, advocacy, household visits and meetings aimed at encouraging residents to provide and use proper toilet facilities.
The agency also said it provided assistance to vulnerable households that faced difficulties in providing toilet facilities, including the construction of new toilets and upgrading of existing facilities where necessary.
Despite these interventions, PEPSA said some households still do not have functional toilet facilities, prompting the agency to commence the final stage of its compliance and enforcement process.
Under the latest abatement notices, affected households have seven days from the date of service to provide functional toilet facilities and meet the applicable sanitation requirements.
PEPSA warned that prosecution would commence against households that fail to comply after the expiration of the seven-day notice period.
The agency urged residents who have yet to provide functional toilets to take advantage of the final compliance window and address the situation before enforcement begins.
The Director-General of PEPSA, Samuel Nathaniel Dapiya, said the agency had already engaged, educated and supported households where necessary, stressing that the next phase would focus on enforcement.
He maintained that functional toilet facilities were a basic sanitation requirement and urged all affected households to comply with the directive.
“Every household MUST have a functional toilet. Compliance is no longer optional,” Dapiya said.
PEPSA said enforcement would commence after the seven-day notice period in accordance with applicable sanitation laws and regulations.
