Damaturu – The Yobe Government on Tuesday said Canadian government has constructed 120 toilets in nine schools in Yobe to check open defecation.

Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, General Manager, Yobe Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), disclosed in Damaturu.

“The Canadian International Development Agency through Unicef constructed 90 toilets in Kara, Dorawa, Majewa, Ali Kime and Yerimaram primary schools in Potiskum.

“Similarly, 30 toilets were constructed at Nayi-Nawa, Abbari, Bulabulin and Maduri primary schools in Damaturu,” Mohammed said.

Besides, the general manager revealed that additional 100 compartments of VIP toilets have been approved for construction by the Japanese government in Fika, Potiskum, Jakusko and Damaturu local government areas of the state.

He said the toilets would be constructed in ‘Almajiri’ schools and other public places including markets, motor parks and clinics.

“These will be constructed in communities hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) because the existing facilities are over stretched,” he said.

The official said “the agency supervised those constructed by the Canadian government, we will as well supervise the 100 others to be constructed by the Japanese government’’.

According to him, the Yobe government will provide water facilities for the toilets.

Mohammed said that the EU programme in Bade and Nguru local government areas had entrenched the culture of using toilet facilities against open defecation.

“Ninety per cent of households in Nguru and Bade local government areas now use toilets,” said the general manager.

He affirmed that, the 2025 deadline against open defecation was feasible with political will and financial support.