ACTDA Builds Ultramodern Toilet Facility in Awka

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

Citizens have been advised to always protect government facilities in their areas to avoid vandalism and ensure durability.

The Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Ven. Barr. Dr. Amaechi Okwuosa made the call while speaking with journalists on the recent construction of an ultramodern facility at the popular Unizik Temporary Site Junction in Awka, the Anambra State capital, by his agency, ACTDA.

According to him, the decision to construct the toilet facility was informed by the menace of open defecation in the area, as people were often seen around there answering the call of nature in the open glaring of the society, despite several posts being made since 2018 by the agency, warning the people to desist from open defecation, and which did not actually yield the intended result.

While reassuring that part of the agency's function is to bring regeneration within the capital territory, the ACTDA Boss who also revealed that the ultramodern toilet facility was structurally copied from England further expressed optimism that the facility would go a long way to end open defecation in the area and the risks associated with it.

Giving an overview of the toilet facility's structure, he said, “The facility takes care of all the adequate aspects of an ultramodern toilet facility. It has a distinct male section (which contains the toilets and the urinus). It also has a distinct female section, which has similar features with the male section. 

“To crown it all, we took into deep consideration, the need of the physically challenged individuals by creating a special and distinct section for them, which is rarely done in most public building construction in Nigeria. The facility also has a section for the pregnant women; and we also sunk a borehole within the premises, with an overhead tank, to ensure regular, adequate and neat functionality of the facility.”

While revealing that the well-lighted facility will be operational from 7am to 7pm for now, and in the long run, operate 24/7; he also noted that the agency had employed cleaners and security men to man and secure the facility respectively. He also stated that facility which has only one entrance was cordoned off with reinforced wire mesh to regulate movement in and out of the facility and prevent hoodlums from molesting the users. He equally sounded a note of warning to hoodlums never to think of using the facility and its environ as a hideout to perpetrate or carry out illegal and illicit acts, as the agency would have zero tolerance to such.

Ven. Okwuosa disclosed that the ultramodern toilet facility was dedicated to the First Lady of Anambra State, Her Excellency, Chief Dr. Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, in her honour and ACTDA's way of appreciating her benevolence and charity works in the state, having herself constructed toilet facilities in the 21 local government areas of the state, among many other charity works she has carried out, which distinguish her from other first ladies the state has had.

While also appreciating Governor Willie Obiano for his support to the agency over the years, Okwuosa also assured that the toilet facility which is the first of its kind was a pilot scheme and would also be replicated in other necessary areas under the watch of ACTDA; even as he urged Ndi Anambra to ensure adequate protection of government's facilities in their areas.