Open Defecation - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Jan, Thu, 2025

FG, NYSC partner to curb open defecation

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By Tosin Kolade

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has announced a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to address open defecation and poor sanitation challenges in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, communicated this at a workshop for NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) Focal Officers of the Clean Nigeria Campaign on Thursday in Abuja.

Pheelangwah was represented by the Director of Reforms and Coordination in the Ministry, Mr Moses Jo-Madugu.

He said that the government had implemented the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programmes to improve poor sanitation indicators.

“The Clean Nigeria Campaign is a clarion call to action; we are excited to collaborate with the NYSC to mobilise Corps members nationwide.

“Through your CDS activities, we aim to trigger a sanitation revolution to end open defecation in Nigeria.

“With our recently reviewed Strategic Plan, unveiled the Vice-President on Nov. 19, 2024, we believe that activities will be rolled out in line with the YouthWASH Strategy.

“We count on your active participation and engagement; this will accelerate progress towards our common goal,” Pheelangwah said.

In her address of welcome, Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the ministry, said the training aimed to equip NYSC CDS officers with the skills to contribute effectively to the Clean Nigeria Campaign.

“Over the next two days, we will explore key strategies, share best practices and engage in collaborative activities.

“These activities are designed to inspire and empower you.”

Ugoh emphasised that the campaign was not only about achieving goals but also about building a passionate community committed to making a positive impact in the sanitation sector.

“Your involvement is crucial; we believe that through this training workshop, you will gain valuable insights that will enhance your role in our efforts to reach individuals in communities across the country,” she said.

She urged the NYSC CDS officers to actively participate in knowledge-sharing.

According to her, it is a collaborative effort and every voice matters.

NYSC Representative, Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, said that the partnership aimed to raise awareness about hygiene and sanitation at the grassroots level.

Ajayi pledged readiness to work closely with the ministry for a cleaner society, adding that the collaboration would ensure grassroots communities were educated about proper sanitation practices.

In her presentation, the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign, Mrs Chizoba Opara, said that a defecation-free Nigeria was everyone’s responsibility.

She added that the collaboration would involve conducting community awareness campaigns through corps members to promote behavioural change.

In his goodwill message, the National Coordinator of the YouthWASH Initiative Africa, Mr Nature Obiakor, said the National YouthWASH Strategic Framework was unveiled in 2023 to promote youth engagement in WASH initiatives.

Obiakor, who stressed that the youth were highly creative, called for more collaboration from stakeholders in the water sector.

He said that the partnership would help build a cleaner and healthier nation for future generations.

“Our efforts are aligned with national and global goals; these include the Clean Nigeria Campaign and the Sustainable Development Goals,’’ he said.

The two-day workshop, organised in collaboration with Self Help Africa, had participants from all 36 states and the FCT.

The event aimed to strengthen the collaboration between the ministry and grassroots organisations to achieve sanitation goals. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Philip Daniel Yatai
Nov, Wed, 2024

Metro

AEPB takes campaign against open defecation to FCT suburbs

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By Philip Yatai

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has taken its campaign against open defecation to the suburbs of the territory.

The Director of the board, Mr Osilama Braimah, stated this during the campaign at Bmuko and Dutse Makaranta in Bwari Area Council of the FCT on Tuesday.

Braimah explained that the campaign was organised to commemorate the 2024 World Toilet Day, with the theme, “Toilets are a Place for Peace.”

According to him, the move is part of efforts to entrench good hygiene practices among rural dwellers across the FCT.

He said that the AEPB, through the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, had been organising awareness campaigns in rural communities across the FCT on the health risk of open defecation.

He stressed the need for every household to have a functional toilet and imbibe good hygiene practices for the health wellbeing of families and communities.

He said that the world toilet day was being observed on Nov. 19 of every year to celebrate toilets and raise awareness of people living without access to safely managed sanitation.

“The whole idea is to prevent health challenges such as cholera, diphtheria, diarrhoea, and other diseases associated with open defecation in communities.

“When people have access to clean and safe toilets, they are protected from preventable diseases associated with poor hygiene practices,” he said.

The director assured the commitment of AEPB in maintaining a clean, safe and hygienic environment across the territory.

He added that the FCT Administration, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has been providing public toilets in schools, parks, markets and other public spaces to ensure accessible and dignified sanitation facilities for all.

Braimah also said that the board was equally engaging school children in the campaign to catch them young.

“We are trying to inculcate in these young ones the habit of proper sanitation and hygiene by enlightening them on the importance of using the toilet.

“It is always easy when people learn good habits at an early stage of their lives so that they will grow with it,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Kate Ogbonna, Director, Environmental Health and Safety Department, said access to clean and safe sanitation was a right of every individual.

Ogbonna urged FCT residents to work with relevant government agencies and critical stakeholders towards addressing sanitation crises in communities through collaborative efforts, policy innovation and public awareness.

She said that the awareness campaign was organised to educate the residents of Bmuko and Dutse Makaranta on the need to own functional toilet facilities.

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, commended the AEPB for ensuring rural communities across the FCT were free from environmental hazards that could lead to outbreak of diseases.

Gabaya, who was represented by the Councillor on Environment, Mr Saliu Matthew pledged the council’s maximum support and cooperation toward ensuring safe environments for all.

Similarly, the Chief of Bmuko Community, Ibrahim Dangana, called for closed monitoring of the toilet facilities installed in schools and public places to ensure effective and efficient use of the facilities.

Dangana, who was represented by one of his aides, Alhaji Ahmad Olajire, also called for improved security in rural communities to ensure the safety of lives and properties. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza