Over 46 Million Nigerians Practicing Open Defecation – Minister

Mr Suleiman Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources, has said that over 46 million Nigerians practice open defecation with the country’s access to improve sanitation at 44 percent.

Adamu who was speaking in Osogbo at the “Award of Certificate presentation to Ifedayo Local Government, for being declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), by National Task Group of Sanitation (NTGS), said it was a landmark achievement for a local government to be declared open defecation free.

The minister, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Eze, explained that the ODF status of Ifedayo Local Government was however achieved under the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WSSSRP).

“With over 46 million Nigerians practicing open defecation, which is rated among the highest globally, all hands must be on deck to reverse the negative impact of this situation on women, girls and those in vulnerable conditions.

“The launch of the ‘Clean Nigeria: use the toilet’s campaign last year was to actualize the national vision of ending open defecation by 2025 and improving access to sustainable sanitation and hygiene services for all in line with the National roadmap.

“The campaign is aimed at mobilizing high level political support, resources and populace towards building a new culture of safe defecation.

“So far, we have been able to record 33 ODF LGAs as at October 2020 and additional LGAs are undergoing the process of validation to be declared as ODF.

“To ensure that our goal is met and no one is left behind , we all must be committed to reconciling our actions in controlling water and sanitation related morbidity and mortality among adults and children, especially those below the age of five , knowing that investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a cost effective and preventive measure in protecting the health of people.” he said

The Representative of UNICEF at the programme, Mr Alan Ibeagha said Ifedayo would be the first local government in the entire South West Nigeria with a 100 percent validated open defecation free status in all its communities.

Ibeagha said UNICEF was part of the success story, having supported the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in three Local Government Areas in Osun (Ayedaade, Odo-Otin and Ifedayo) through the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WASSSRP II)

He said investing in water , sanitation and hygiene was critical to preventing both pandemics and local outbreaks adding that UNICEF investment in the WASH programme was a good investment because it supports human rights and save lives.

He, however, said though the ODF status of Ifedayo LGA shows the commitment of the state government and people to ending open defecation in the state , but a lot still need to be done to make the entire state open defecation free.

Mrs Kafayat Oyetola , Osun First Lady and WASH Ambassador, in her remarks said the ODF feat of Ifedayo was achieved almost a year ago, however, the circumstances of the nation and the world prevented the award of certificate ceremony from holding earlier.

“Today, we have Ifedayo as a performance record, I am happy to say that work is advanced in the two other local government areas (Ayedaade and Odo-Otin)

“We hope they will join Ifedayo as one of the areas that are free of open defecation practice in Osun and I thank our people for their commitment to this campaign.

“The simple exercise of handwashing with soap is an effective remedy against all infectious diseases, especially, the raging and deadly coronavirus.

“I therefore urge our people in other local government areas in the State to step up the campaigns in our communities.

“Let us emulate Ifedayo. The message is simple; every house should have a toilet, use the toilet and wash hands with soap after the use of a toilet and regularly, after work, market, and coming from large gathering places.” she said

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, in his own remarks thanked his wife for being at the forefront of the campaign against open defecation in the state and partnering with the Rural Water and Environment Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) to eliminate the act.

He also appreciated UNICEF and the European Union for their tremendous intervention in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme and consequently the campaign against open defecation in Osun.

He said the intervention had led to many deliverables which included; provision of water and sanitation facilities to communities, schools, markets, motor parks and health centers and the resuscitation of dysfunctional boreholes, plus several trainings on sanitation, hygiene behavioural change.

An Award of Certificate was presented to Ifedayo Local Government chairman , Mr Abiodun Idowu, by the Federal Minister of Water Resources, in collaboration with UNICEF, for achieving the ODF feat .