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