…over 30,000 communities certified open defecation free

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AHEAD of the 2025 deadline, the Federal Government, Friday, revealed plans to intensify campaign on ending open defecation.

Speaking during a press briefing on the 5th anniversary of the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign and Launch of the Clean Nigeria Strategic Plan’ scheduled to hold on the 19th November, 2024, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, expressed concern over the status of open defecation in parts of the country as it affects health and the environment.

However, according to Utsev, the government and development partners are not resting on their hoarse but have dedicated time and resources to ensure the country is declared open defecation free based on the records showing that.

He also made it known that Since the launch of the campaign in 2019, significant success has been recorded, as 135 Local Government Areas have attained an Open Defecation Free status.

He therefore, called on States and local governments to lead the fight to end open defecation in their areas and assured that interventions would be given to them.

However, he said there has been challenges to meet the 2025 deadline of ending open defecation across the country, which basically is the lack of buy-in by local governments, and also Nigerians not using the toilet facilities provided for their convenience and safety.

He also added that the 2024 World Toilet Day with the theme ‘Sanitation for Peace’ highlights toilets as a place of peace, protection and progress, essential to public and environmental health.

According to him, the launch of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan will be hosted by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

He said: “The launch of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan coincides with the World Toilet Day, that is set aside by the United Nations to accelerate the drive towards an Open Defecation Free Nigeria, spotlight sanitation, cascade action from the global world to community level, and address our sanitation challenges.

“We are aware that Open defecation is a critical public health and environmental issue that compromises our water sources, spread diseases, and negatively impacts the quality of life, education, and economic productivity of the populace. Efforts are on to provide adequate sanitation facilities to address open defecation which poses particular risk, especially on women, girls and vulnerable communities.

“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation rolled out several initiatives to bridge the existing gap of inadequate basic sanitation services in order to actualize the Sustainable Development Goal 6 for Water and Sanitation in Nigeria.

“Some of these initiatives include, but not limited to declaration of the State of Emergency in WASH Sector; development of a National Action Plan to revitalize the sector; Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme; Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply; Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme; and the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign supported by the Presidential Executive Order 009 on Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025.

“The ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign is an ambitious national movement, which requires States and Local Government Areas to join in the move to end open defecation across Nigeria. Since the launch of the campaign in 2019, significant success has been recorded, as 135 LGAs have attained an Open Defecation Free status.

“Despite the achievements so far made, it still appears difficult to meet the campaign target for 2025, therefore, the need to identify and re- strategize the critical elements that will progressively increase the level of advocacy and awareness.

“Logically, the Strategic Plan for the Clean Nigeria Campaign is a comprehensive, actionable framework that outlines our path to a Clean Nigeria, where everyone would have reasonable access to use a toilet by the year 2030.

“The importance of this campaign cannot be overemphasized because every step taken towards ending open defecation will improve health, boost productivity, and enhance the dignity and safety of our citizens.

“Achieving these will definitely require active advocacy and engagement of relevant stakeholders to mobilize high-level political support that will drive the campaign, especially at the sub-national level.

“The stakeholders that are expected to act include the Executive State Governors, Chairmen of Local Government Areas, National and State Legislators, Members of the International Community, Development Partners, Private Sector, Civil Societies, Media and the general populace.”

Meanwhile, according to the Minister, “more LGAs are currently undergoing a verification process in line with the National Protocol on Open Defecation Free, while over 30,000 other communities were certified as ODF.”