*As FG, States, Devt Partners Move To Quickly End Open Defecation In Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, on Wednesday declared that 142 Local Government Areas in 20 states had been declared open defecation-free by January 2025.
To further ensure the ending of open defecation and accelerating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria, the Federal and State Governments, in collaboration with Development Partners, have reaffirmed their commitment to expedite action.
This took place at the 3rd National Retreat on 'Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign' to accelerate and track progress to end open defecation and the Unveiling of the National WASH IEC Materials held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, at the occasion, commended the progress made so far, and stressed the need for State Governments to accelerate efforts, as they are the key drivers of the Campaign.
He urged them to demonstrate greater commitment by investing financial and human resources necessary to meet the Campaign’s ambitious targets.
The Honourable Minister also lauded the States that have shown commitment to end open defecation in Nigeria and encouraged lagging states to learn from their counterparts and implement key action points from the retreat for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Nigeria for future generations.
He urged State, local governments and development partners to take collective action to address the issue and emphasized the urgent need for renewed commitment to achieving an open defecation-free Nigeria by 2030.
The Minister emphasized the critical importance of the Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC) which was Launched in 2019 following the Presidential Executive Order 009.
He said that the Campaign represents a transformative movement to end open defecation in Nigeria and highlighted the government’s unwavering resolve to address sanitation challenges through the promotion of improved hygiene practices and the prioritization of initiatives aimed at bridging the gap in access to WASH services for all Nigerians.
He underscored the pivotal role of access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to ensure the well-being of the population, harping on the need to accelerate the Clean Nigeria Campaign.
The Minister, in a statement by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director Information and PR, also noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to the Campaign’s objectives evident in the reinauguration of the Campaign’s Steering Committee in July 2024, under the leadership of Vice President, His Excellency , Sen. Kashim Shettima, and the launch of the Revised Implementation Strategy 2025-2030 among others.
The Minister explained that the strategy provided a comprehensive roadmap for stakeholders, addressing key bottlenecks identified during the Campaign’s implementation and accelerating progress toward the goal.
According to him, the revised strategy is anchored on six critical pillars, designed to drive innovation and collaboration across all levels of government, strengthen private sector participation, and enhance the efforts of development partners and other key stakeholders.
Describing the Clean Nigeria Campaign as a clarion call to action, Prof. Utsev urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the shared mission of achieving a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, represented by the Director Reform Coordination in the Ministry, Mr. Moses Jo-Madugu, emphasized that the coastal waters serve diverse purposes that contribute significantly to livelihoods, food security, poverty alleviation, and economic prosperity, stressing that proper management of these resources could significantly enhance National Development.
In her goodwill message, the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian and Development Partners Mrs. Imna Audu, expressed concern that out of Nigeria’s 36 states, only Jigawa State has achieved ODF status and called for collective action from state and local governments, as well as development partners, to change the narrative.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr. Jane Bevan, as well as representatives of NEWSAN (Network of Water and Sanitation NGOs), YouthWASH, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Honourable Commissioners of Water Resources from the States.
Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the Ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh gave the vote of thanks while the overview of the Clean Nigeria Campaign was presented by the National Coordinator CNC, Mrs. Chizoma Opara,
Key highlights of the event included the unveiling of the WASH IEC materials, and the rebranding of the SURWASH Logo, reinforcing government’s commitment to expanding sustainable WASH interventions across Nigeria.