Residents Decry Open Defecation in Hausawa Dan Fulani, Call for Urgent Government Intervention
By Mustapha Salisu
Residents of Hausawa Dan Fulani in Kano have raised serious concerns over the persistent issue of open defecation in an open space within the community, which they say is causing health hazards and contributing to the spread of diseases such as cholera.
Muhammad Abdullahi, a resident, lamented the worsening situation, noting that two households in the area are currently battling cholera, allegedly due to the contamination caused by open defecation. He expressed disappointment over the lack of enforcement of the state government’s law against open defecation.
“We have heard that the government has a law to prosecute open defecators, but we are yet to see any impact. Anyone familiar with Murtala Muhammad Secondary School and Murtala Juma’at Mosque knows that they are surrounded by residential areas. The government must act fast,” he said.
Abdullahi suspects that almajiri students are primarily responsible for the open defecation, given that there are about three almajiri schools within the community. He urged the government to provide them with proper toilet facilities to curb the issue. He further appealed for the land to be utilized for a meaningful purpose to prevent further environmental hazards.
Another resident, Yusuf Muhammad, highlighted that the land, which belongs to the federal government, has also become a dumping site. He warned that burning refuse there releases toxic fumes that pollute the air for days, making the environment unbearable.
Bashir Fama, a local business owner in the area, emphasized the health risks posed by the situation, attributing 90% of the open defecation to almajiri students. He stressed the need for urgent intervention, adding that relevant agencies should engage with the management of tsangaya schools in the area.
“Some of these schools have over 100 pupils but only two or three restrooms. If they are stopped from defecating in the open space, they might return to the community and worsen the problem,” he noted.
On his part, the Ward Head of Hausawa Dan Fulani, Abdullahi Mekano Idris of Tarauni Local Government, confirmed that residents have repeatedly lodged complaints about the issue. He acknowledged that the surrounding schools lack proper restroom facilities, which contributes to open defecation.
“The situation is disturbing. Passing by the area is difficult due to the foul smell, and when it rains, living conditions become unbearable. Children play football in the contaminated area, touching the feces with their bare hands, which is highly unhygienic. There is also a hospital nearby, and this practice could expose patients to infections,” he stated.
The ward head also confirmed that cases of cholera have been recorded in the community and warned that without swift intervention, the problem could escalate across Kano State.
He called on the state’s Commissioner for Health and other relevant stakeholders to step in and address the issue before it leads to a major public health crisis.
