FG expresses commitment to end open defecation by 2025

THE Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending open defecation in Nigeria by year 2025.

Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman  Adamu, said this when he paid a visit to Benue State and Gberndyer community in Mase town of Gwer-East Local Government Area, during a community-led total sanitation.

Adamu, who was overwhelmed at the level of compliance exhibited by the community, expressed the hope that Nigeria would achieve open defecation-free status by 2025.

He revealed at the occasion that Obanliku Local Government Area in Cross River State has achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, saying: “This milestone, first of its kind in Nigeria which was achieved using the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach could be replicated across the country.”

He urged  members of the community to work towards attainment of the ODF status so as to be a model to other neighbouring communities, local government councils and the State in general.

The Minister said the Federal Government has launched the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme designed as a national collaborative instrument among government at all levels.

He said this was aimed at addressing the rural component of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 6.1 and 6.2 targets, which was a national roadmap of making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025.

Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu, in his remark said that the government of the state took the issue of sanitation seriously as it related to the lives of the people.

“Because of the importance of sanitation, the government in this year’s budget will pay up the balance of the state counterpart fund so as to be able to expand the project to more communities and local government areas of the state,” he said.

He said there was decline in illnesses and child mortality as a result of the Federal Government’s intervention and the ODF status of the community.

The project manager of United Purpose; a facilitating development agency, Mr Nanpet Chuktu, said that with the intervention of the project in Gberndyer community, there was a huge improvement in the sanitation of the people.

He said prior to the intervention, the number of latrines were 4 and that the existing latrines after intervention were now 38 to 32 households of about 256 population.

He said that with the provision of these facilities and the change in attitude of the people towards sanitation matter, the community was declared open defecation free on 30th October, 2016.