House owners without toilet facility in Ikole, Ekiti State, are now speeding up efforts to meet the February deadline given by the state government to provide the facility in their home.

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti had in December 2014 given a two-month ultimatum to owners of residential buildings without toilet to build one or face prosecution.

Some of the affected landlords have begun to dig soak away pits while bricklayers are working on erection of structure to be used.

Some landlords who are yet to commence construction of toilets attributed the delay to scarcity of labourers for the job.

They are, however, optimistic that the project would be completed before the end of February as directed by the governor to avoid being sanctioned.

John Ayeni, one of the affected landlords, said the order was for their own benefit, adding that he had just finished the construction of toilet at the back of his house.

“What remains is to get plumber that will do the finishing works,​”​ ​Mr. ​Ayeni said.

A landlady, Olajubutu Arinola, said the deadline issued by the state government “had fast tracked the payment of 2015 house rent by tenants which assisted me to have enough money for the project.”

Ms. Arinola said that the toilet would be made ready before the end of January.

She also appealed to other landlords to take the deadline serious to avoid being sanctioned.

Also speaking, Olabisi Arowojobe, said he had two rooms meant for male and female toilets already and that plan was underway to dig soak away pit.

Mr. Arowojobe commended the present administration in the state for the firm decision, saying it would go a long way to discourage open defecation in the state.

(NAN)