Rotary Club Commissions Modern Facility In Abuja Community

In a move to improve public health and sanitation, the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa has commissioned a modern public toilet facility for the residents of Kungabukun village in the Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to end open defecation in the community.

The project, which comprised six well-built units with water facilities, three for males and three for females, was officially inaugurated yesterday, drawing praise from senior Rotary officials for its direct impact on a critical community need.

The District Governor of Rotary International, District 9127, Princess Dame Joy Okoro, who presided over the commissioning, hailed the initiative as impactful and timely, aligning with the federal government’s drive to end open defecation in Nigeria.

“What we are here to do today is to commission this wonderful, impactful project. You have heard for some years now, the government is so interested in preventing everything about open defecation, and this club has deemed it necessary to give this wonderful community, this is what the community needs most,” she said.

She revealed that over 500 inhabitants in the community lacked toilet facilities in their homes, making the Rotary intervention crucial.

The District Governor promised to bring the project to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, noting the irony of open defecation persisting in the nation’s capital.

“And for this club to deem it necessary to come to this community is something to be honored. What we do is to adopt communities, get to where sometimes government might not get to. And we will continue with this, because it’s a very, very good, impactful venture,” she said.

Also, the District Governor Nominee, Dr. Chijoke Ekechukwu, emphasised the project’s importance in tackling a longstanding health challenge.

“Recall that open defecation has been a problem in the country and this community; they have been defecating everywhere because there is no provision for a toilet system in all houses around here.

“It is a very interesting project, and the community is very happy with the project, and we praise them for having this project for the community,” he said.

The president of the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa, Rotn. Chinonso David Emmanuel, explained the club’s long-standing relationship with Kungabukun Village, which is its adopted community.

He detailed past interventions, including the renovation of a health centre, and described the toilet project as a long-held dream finally realised.

“It was that bad in this community that if you are moving, you can even be putting your leg in faeces. We discovered that in the community, they build their houses, [and] in the morning, they go to the bush to defecate, which is not good for their health.

“You believe with me that faeces is one of the major sources of contamination. So that is what motivated us, because once the toilets are put in place, even the way they fall sick with cholera and other diseases will reduce drastically,” he said.

Emmanuel called on the government to encourage organisations like Rotary, asserting that such partnerships are key to addressing similar issues in rural areas across the country.