By Tosin Kolade

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has pledged the Church’s support for the Federal Government’s Clean Nigeria, ‘Use the Toilet’campaign to end open defecation.

He made the commitment when he received the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and senior ministry officials in Abuja on Tuesday.

Kaigama commended the government’s engagement with religious leaders, stressing that governance should involve direct interaction with the people.

He noted the church’s role in raising awareness and educating communities, particularly in rural areas, about the dangers of open defecation and the need for improved sanitation.

He emphasised that open defecation contributes to waterborne diseases, environmental degradation, and public health risks.

Citing Pope Francis’ Laudato Si on environmental care, he noted that the church is committed to promoting hygiene and sanitation.

Kaigama assured that he would personally advocate for the campaign and encourage priests to incorporate sanitation messages in their teachings.

He recalled the church’s role in promoting health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed readiness to collaborate with the government in ensuring clean and safe environments.

Earlier, Utsev explained that the Clean Nigeria campaign, launched in 2019, aims to eliminate open defecation by 2030.

He noted progress, with 142 local governments now declared open defecation-free, up from 102 before the current administration.

He urged the church to reinforce the message in its teachings and provide sanitation facilities as models for communities.

According to him, the Federal Government is willing to provide technical assistance to support the initiative.

“Our appeal is that we cannot achieve this without the support and collaboration of the Church. That is why we are calling on the Church to support us in this effort, as it will benefit all Nigerians.

“We recognise the power of the Church’s message and its wide-reaching influence. This is why we have chosen the Church as a key partner in promoting Nigeria’s goal of becoming an open defecation-free nation.

“Through Church conferences, this message can be shared, and priests attending these gatherings can help spread awareness in both urban and rural communities.

“Additionally, we would appreciate the opportunity to participate in these conferences, where our personnel can address bishops, priests, and seminarians to further promote this campaign.

“We sincerely thank you and pray that, through this collaboration, our people will enjoy better living conditions. Improved sanitation will also boost our nation’s economy, as public health is closely linked to economic development.

“We, therefore, urge the church to assist and partner with us in driving this campaign forward”.

The minister joined Catholics in praying for Pope Francis’ recovery and expressed hope for stronger church-government collaboration on public health and development. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab