The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev has stated that the Federal Government is restrategising towards achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by the year 2030.
Prof. Joseph Utsev stated this during a Ministerial Media Briefing held at the Ministry on Friday in Abuja.
Open defecation is the act of passing excrement in open area instead of using the toilet.
Reports indicate that Nigeria is among the countries with the highest rates of open defecation in the world.
In 2021, it was estimated that about 48 million Nigerians still practiced open defecation.
However, to address this, the National Council on Water Resources, in 2014, developed a roadmap to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, with the launch of “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, an ambitious national movement, which requires States and Local Government Areas to join in the move to end open defecation across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, a recent report by UNICEF said, the country requires approximately 20 million toilets to eliminate open defecation by 2030, which is about five years from now.
Speaking, the Minister noted that since the launch of the campaign in 2019, significant success has been recorded, as One Hundred and Thirty-Five (135) LGAs have attained an Open Defecation Free status.
While disclosing that more LGAs are currently undergoing a verification process in line with the National Protocol on Open Defecation Free, he stated that over Thirty Thousand (30,000) other communities were certified as ODF.
He said, 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.
Utsev underscored the importance of the campaign towards ending open defecation that will improve health, boost productivity, and enhance the dignity and safety of Nigerians.
“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,” Minister added.
He hinted of the federal government’s readiness to officially launch the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan, in furtherance of its efforts to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
According to him, the Strategic Plan for the Clean Nigeria Campaign is a comprehensive, actionable framework that outlines pathways to a Clean Nigeria, where everyone would have reasonable access to use a toilet by the year 2030.
He further disclosed that the launch of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan will be hosted by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, 19th November, 2024 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
He informed that the launch of the 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 the nation’s sanitation challenges.
“The event will help to trigger the needed campaign commitment at the sub-national level that would mobilize households, relevant Government institutions and private sector to supply sanitation facilities in homes and improve access to WASH facilities in public places,” Prof. Utsev explained.
