Nigeria Should Be Open Defecation-free By 2025 – Utsev

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, has called on Nigerians to join hands with the federal government for the nation to achieve Open defecation-free status by 2025.

He stressed the need for the country and her citizens to enhance the sanitation value chain for the proper management and disposal of wastes.

At an event organised in Abuja to mark the 2023 World Toilet Day themed “Accelerating Change”, the minister revealed that 105 local government areas and 40,000 communities across the country had attained Open Defecation-free (ODF) status. 

Prof Utsev pointed out that government has launched several initiatives to enhance proper sanitation and wastes disposal but noted that government alone cannot achieve the feat without the support of the people. According to him, the initiatives include the National Action Plan for Sector Revitalisation and the Clean Nigeria Campaign.

He stressed global challenges in meeting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) goals, noting that the recent WHO/UNICEF report had revealed that 3.5 billion people across the globe lack access to safe toilets.

The minister called on all citizens to be actively involved in the fight against water-borne diseases urging them to become “Sanitation for All Advocates” through collaborative efforts for improved access to sanitation services, health and overall development of the nation.

He acknowledged the support of development partners including Reckitt Benckiser, UNICEF, World Bank, Sato, lixil, the media and other critical stakeholders in the WASH subdivision.