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  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Environment

Katsina agency employs ‘spot and fix’ to halt open defecation

By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, March 27, 2020 (NAN) The Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), says it is deploying a ‘spot and fix’ mechanism toward ending open defecation in the state.

The agency’s Executive Director, Mr Aminu Dayyabu, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Dayyabu said the agency saw the need to address immediate causes of open defecation in communities in the state and this had led to reduction in the practice.

He expressed optimism that a large number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) would soon be declared Open Defecation-Free (ODF), adding that the state had domesticated the roadmap toward ending open defecation.

“What we do is to identify an issue with the communities, examine the likely cause and fix it immediately; if it is lack of toilet, we provide it and solve the problem of open defecation.’’

Dayyabu said that the state was benefiting from the UNICEF supported Sanitation Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) Project since 2010.

He said that there were large investments from stakeholders to see that the LGAs were open defecation free.

“We have really worked very hard, the state and local governments, and relevant stakeholders have really invested heavily to see that Katsina state achieves a significant level of ODF LGAs.

“Just last year (2019), we were able to develop and domesticate the roadmap to see that Katsina state is certified as ODF in the next five years.

“The government is very mindful of the challenge of open defecation in the state that is why the present government has taken it very seriously to build the capacity of the local governments.

“The RUWASSA staff and even the community, the governor is an advocate of seeing that the state moves to the next level in scaling up sanitation delivery,’’ he said.

According to him, the state government is worried about open defecation practice, hence strengthening efforts in building the capacity of members of staff of LGAs, RUWASSA and communities for overall adherence to hygiene promotion at all times.

The executive director said that engaging in open defecation and living in unhygienic environment was responsible for most of the water and environment-related diseases.

He urged the people to desist from those acts.

Dayyabu said that stopping defecation in open environment would further assist to prevent outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera, which account for high rate of child mortality in the state.

According to UNICEF, poor access to improved water and sanitation in Nigeria remains a major contributing factor to high morbidity and mortality rates among children under five.

The use of contaminated drinking water and poor sanitary conditions result in increased vulnerability to water-borne diseases, including diarrhoea which leads to deaths of more than 70,000 children under five annually. (NAN)
TAK/JEY/GY
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Grace Yussuf

  • Feb, Fri, 2020
Environment

Building civil societies’ capacity will help end open defecation before 2025 -Coordinator

Defecation
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Feb. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), has called for continuous training and capacity building of Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs) toward ending open defecation practice in the country before 2025.

NEWSAN’s National Coordinator, Mr Benson Attah, who said this at the organisation’s Strategic Planning Workshop, said that the training would help to deepen knowledge and new strategies to end the practice.

According to him, Nigeria can meet the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) target before 2025, with commitment from all stakeholders, and prioritising access to potable water and sanitation everywhere.

He said the workshop was an opportunity to review its current strategic plan following the change in trends of water and sanitation nationally and globally.

“Since the current strategic plan is going to end from 2015 to 2020, it is necessary that we have a new plan. We also realise that the current strategic plan may not have taken into consideration the trending issues in the country and globally.

“The current strategic plan will accommodate those issues that were not there, with the repositioning of water and sanitation sector in the country, it has now put a shoulder of responsibility on NEWSAN.

“So it needs to reposition itself to face the new challenges effectively and efficiently to enable it get the required results.

“And also with the current interest of the Federal Government, NEWSAN needs to work with the requirements to enhance the ability of the Federal Government and the Water and Sanitation sector to achieve the desire of an open defecation free Nigeria by 2025.”

Attah said from the assessment and analysis that the organisation had carried in the implementation of Water and Sanitation activities between 2009 till date, had seen the exclusion of the civil society groups.

He said that it was not until 2015 that civil society organisations began participating in implementing water and sanitation projects and facilities in the country with some ODF local government areas.

He said that the civil society had a huge role in mobilising communities and enhancing their ability to work effectively to attain open defecation.

He called on both state and Federal Governments to prioritise WASH service provision and make water and sanitation a human right, urging them to provide toilet facilities in all schools in their states.

“We have also requested them to increase the involvement of NGOs/CSOs in the delivery of WASH services, particularly in the rural areas for sustainability.

“Additionally, there is a need to ensure the provision of toilet facilities in public institutions and public places, including stop stations/transit points across the states, among others.

“We have also taken a commitment to advocate to  government for the proper positioning of the private sector in WASH.”

The national coordinator stressed the need for proper laws and policies to be put in place to create an enabling environment for private sector functioning in the sector.

NEWSAN is an umbrella network of over 300 organisations across the country, coordinating effective water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) service delivery. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

 

  • Feb, Fri, 2020
Environment

FG to partner telecom companies to end open defecation

Defecation

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Feb. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Government has indicated plans to partner with IHS Towers, a telecommunication infrastructure companty, for disseminating behavioral change messages to end open defecation practice in the country.

Acting Coordinator, Clean Nigeria, Use The Toilet Campaign Programme, Mrs Chizoma Opara, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that this partnership would involve the formulation and sending of accurate and timely information to subscribers.

NAN reports that IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunication infrastructure in the world.

She said IHS Towers had indicated interest and commitment, saying they were already working with major mobile network operators to pass effective messages to change the narratives of poor hygiene practices.

“We have begun discussion with IHS Towers to see how we leverage on their communication infrastructure to pass messages of hygiene promotion.

“The messages are already being composed, so that mobile telecommunication subscribers get the information on their phones on how to stop open defecation practice. 

She said the role of private sector in scaling up water and sanitation services in the country was very important, commending the efforts of the Organised Private Sector (OPS-WASH) in bringing multinationals into the sector.

She added that the secretariat of the Clean Nigeria, Use The Toilet Campaign Programme, had begun engagement of radio stations to disseminate information on behavior change toward ending open defecation.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), there are over 170 million active mobile telephone users in Nigeria, with industry projections suggesting that the smartphone adoption rate in sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2025. (NAN)

TAK/CHOM/WOJ

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Wale Ojetimi

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Environment

Benue LG declared 16th Open-Defecation-free LGA

 

 

Defecation

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Dec. 19, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has declared Gwer East Local Government Area in Benue, Open-Defecation-Free (ODF), having met the requirement slated in the ODF protocol for hygiene promotion.

Mr Emmanuel Awe, Director, Water Quality Supply and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, declared the area ODF on Thursday after it met the stipulated requirement.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that before attaining the ODF status, communities would have eliminated open defecation and imbibed total sanitation practices which include personal, environmental and domestic hygiene.

The communities would have also had 100 per cent toilet use and increased ownership and sustainability of hygiene and sanitation services.

Awe, represented by Mrs. Kogbara Ayaba, from the ministry, commended the people of Gwer East for the landmark achievement.

According to him, the achievement earns Benue another first, being the first to have a LG-wide ODF (Logo LGA), and now the first to have the second LGA as ODF in the North-Central Region of Nigeria.

“This has increased the total number of LGAs that are ODF to 16 in the Country. I urge you to continue with these accomplishments and aspire to become the first state to attain state – wide ODF status.

“The benefits of access to improved WASH, especially of living in an open defecation free environments, impacts on education, health, security and socioeconomic wellbeing of the people.”

While commending efforts of development partners in scaling up access to improved hygiene, he urged the members of the community to remain steadfast.

He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria found herself on the top of the ladder of countries with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, second behind India and the first in Africa.

“As a country that prides herself as the giant of Africa, this is certainly not a good image. With an estimated 47 million people indulging in the act, the practice of open defecation is a norm in many communities due to lack of sanitation facilities.

“Also, many public places either lack sanitation facilities or have facilities which are not accessible or fit for use.”

He noted that an assessment of the status of the sector in 2017 revealed that the sector was in a critical condition which needed more attention with a minimum of three times the investment required to achieve the SDGs for water and sanitation.

This assessment, he added, led to the development of the National Action Plan for the revitalisation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, which was launched by the President on 8th November 2018, with the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Sector.

He noted that the Federal Executive Council, on 8th May, 2019 approved the carrying out of a Clean Nigeria – Use the Toilet Campaign to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

“The Campaign was launched on the 19th of November, 2019 by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The Clean Nigeria Campaign is a national transformative initiative to mobilise the entire populace towards imbibing the culture of safe and sustainable sanitation practices towards the 2025 target date.

“It is important that households are mobilised to provide their sanitation facilities, and relevant government institutions and the private sector provide sanitation facilities in public places such as schools, health care centres, parks and markets, in order to realise total coverage and sustainable access for the populace.

“The Campaign is backed by an Executive Order 009, which was signed by Mr President on Wednesday, 20th November, 2019. The Federal Government recognises the fact that action to end open defecation in Nigeria will require the contribution and commitment of everyone.’’

While noting that the primary responsibility for provision of WASH services lies with the States and LGs, Awe reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to supporting sub-national level initiatives towards improving access to WASH services for the populace.

The director also commended United Purpose and the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Programme in Nigeria, for their leadership roles, having received funding from the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).

“The RUSHPIN Programme is truly becoming the model sanitation programme we originally intended it to be when we approached the Global Sanitation Fund in 2010 to support Nigeria in shaping the Sanitation sub-sector.”

Mr Nanpet Chuktu, Programme Manager, United Purpose Nigeria, in a remark, said that the people of Gwer East were able to end open defecation through a collective behaviour change process.

“As as a result of such practice, an estimated 227,700 people living in the LG now live in clean, healthy environments.

“This uptake of improved sanitation practice has impacted greatly on the lives of the people of Gwer East, especially on the lives of children under 5 years, who are the main victims of diseases resulting from poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

“The people of Gwer East have today gathered to celebrate their attainment of ODF status. This celebration is significant as it is following the declaration of a state of emergency on Water and Sanitation by the State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom  and the launch of the Clean Benue-Use the toilet Campaign which happened on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019.

“The declaration of the state of emergency and launch of the Clean Benue campaign shows that Benue State is committed to achieving SDG6 by 2025 in line with the National Plan to end Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

“Gwer East is the fourth LG under the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) Programme to attain ODF status, following Obanliku, Bekwarra (Cross River State) and Logo (Benue State).

“The Programme has, thus, proven to be a model to take sanitation to scale. With continued support from the Government of Benue State three additional LGs– Ado, Gboko and Gwer West – are in line to becoming ODF.”

The RUSHPIN programme is an initiative of the Government of Nigeria, implemented with funding from the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF)/Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).

United Purpose (UP), an International NGO headquartered in the UK, is the Executing Agency of the RUSHPIN programme.

The programme uses the ‘Community-led Total Sanitation’ approach, empowering entire communities to collectively change their sanitation and hygiene behaviour, and ensuring that every community member uses a toilet and practices good hygiene. (NAN)

 

TAK/ETS

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Agriculture

Partnership, financing key to ending open defecation -Minister

Defecation
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Dec. 17, 2019 (NAN) Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to partner the organised private sector in financing and improving corporate social responsibilities in the fight against open defecation practice in the country.

Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, made this commitment in a meeting with the Organised Private Sector on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the role of the private sector in the revitalisation of the WASH sector cannot be overlooked, being the engine room for economic growth.

He noted that they were the key players when it comes to creating innovative structures which promotes financing of WASH services.

“I therefore call on you all to support the Federal Government of Nigeria to end Open Defecation in the country, I wish to assure all stakeholders of my ministry’s commitment towards improved co-ordination, partnership and implementation of WASH programmes.

“This is expected to address the water, sanitation and hygiene inadequacies in our cities and communities, and add to the scale-up processes in our joint effort to tackle the situation.

“I wish to appreciate the contributions of all our development partners who have contributed immensely in bringing together an organised private sector, and other partners for their immense efforts and persistence which resulted in this incredible initiative,’’ he said.

Adamu said Nigeria was currently the country with the highest number of people practicing open defecation in Africa and about to be ranked first globally with an estimated 47 million people involved in the act.

He said it was worrisome that more than two-thirds of the population were without access to basic sanitation facilities.

He noted that the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 focused on achieving access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.

“The SDGs have also thrown up many hurdles that will require collaborative efforts in overcoming them.

“Besides the exposure to diseases, lack of dignity and inconveniences experienced when practicing open defecation due to non-availability of sanitation facilities, women and girls especially, are exposed to violence, including rape, when they have to go out at night to defecate in the open.

“As part of efforts to address this issue, with particular reference to ending open defecation, a National Roadmap towards making Nigeria Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2025 was developed and launched in 2016.

“However, only minimal progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Roadmap, with only 16 LGAs across the country so far certified as open defecation free according to the National ODF Protocol,’’ Adamu said.

The minister said since after the inauguration of the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), 29 States have signed the Protocol.

He said it was an opportunity for the sector to leverage on available expertise, technology and financial resources of all stakeholders.

Adamu added that the ministry would continue to strengthen coordination towards changing the narrative of poor access to sanitation services and ending open defecation in the country.

Earlier, Dr Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator, Organised Private Sector WASH, noted that the role of private sector in scaling up water and sanitation services in the country cannot be over-emphasised.

He called for more commitment from all parties involved.

According to him, the private sector has commenced discussion with the Nigeria Diaspora Commission to see how one million Diasporas could adopt one toilet each for one household.

He said the Organised Private Sector were the engine of the country.

Adamu said that Nigerian government has shown the highest commitment in its declaration of a state of emergency in the sector and in the recent order 009 from the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Zaid Jurji, UNICEF Chief of WASH, appreciated Nigeria’s efforts and its momentum towards ending open defecation in the country.

He said the `Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet Campaign was borne out of the impressive efforts Indian government made at ending open defecation in rural area.

Jurji called for such political will and increased commitment to reversing the trend.

The chief WASH said Nigeria’s progress was slow following increasing demography, from uncontrolled population expansion, saying there is the need to close gaps in a sustainable manner.

He added that UNICEF was using the Community-Led Total Sanitation approach to encourage communities to build and use toilets, and to promote behaviour change, adding that ending open defecation comes with collective partnerships.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, said the leadership role that the Federal Government was taking in ending open defecation practice was impressive.

She added that open defecation was an embarrassment to the country.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed the need for collective partnership, saying million of Nigerians in the Diaspora have shown interest to reverse this trend.

“Nigeria needs more commitment from the sub-national levels, there must be penalty for actions, this must be tied to accessibility and availability of toilet facilities especially in rural areas,’’ she said. (NAN)
TAK/KM/ISMA
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Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Ismail Abdulaziz

Environment

FG woos private sector in `Clean Nigeria’ campaign

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu (L), speaking during his appearance on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Sunday (23/12/18). With him is the head of the Agency’s Agriculture and Environment Desk, Grace Yusuf

Campaign
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, April 26, 2019 (NAN) The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has called on private sectors to partner with the ministry in its `Clean Nigeria campaign’ towards ending open defecation in the country.

Adamu made the call at the sidelines of a One-Day Inter-Ministerial Dialogue on Sanitation in Abuja.

The minister said stakeholders collaboration would change the narratives of open defecation practice in the country.

The inauguration of a national transformational movement tagged: “Clean Nigeria: War against Open Defecation” was to end open defecation in Nigeria and reduce the number of Nigerians involved in open defecation worldwide.

The minister said the intervention would be a nationwide mission, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, and all Federal MDAs, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

According to him, the intervention will also support all the State Governments and MDAs to facilitate grassroots intervention on the menace.

Adamu said it would be a shame that India exits the position of largest country with open defecation practice, leaving Nigeria at the number one spot.

According to him, within the last four years, India has provided toilets for 400 million persons, and is on track to meet the target of delivering toilets to an additional 150 million persons before October.

“We are not saying that government alone should do the public toilets, we are even saying the private sector can look for a land’’

‘’Government should facilitate for the private sector to be able to find a corner in the town, in the market or somewhere to be able to build a toilet facility, or a water facility, combined with the sanitation facility.

“So, it is a joint effort between the Federal Government, the states, business community, or development partners and everybody. This campaign is towards mobilising the entire country so that everybody think and talk sanitation.

“The number one thing is behavioural change because a lot of people don’t think there is a loss of dignity in stripping at that corner and doing their business, where as it is, they don’t think that doing that will attract flies.

‘’It will take flies to ‘Suya’ spot, somebody will go and eat that ‘suya’ and his health is in danger, and maybe his life, they don’t feel that sense of responsibility.’’

He disclosed that the Federal Government would soon start asking filling station, shops among others to open up their facilities to the public, saying this was what was acceptable in other countries.

He applauded efforts of development partners in the intervention programmes through the Community Led Total Sanitation principle, saying this has led to the attainment of 10 Open Defecation-Free Local Government Areas in the country.

“In India for example, most of the 90 million toilets that were built were not built by the government, they were built by the people, women, cooperative societies, school children, trade groups coming together.”

He added that Nigerians by now should understand the importance of building and using toilets in their houses, saying government would intervene when there are issues of the poor and the vulnerable.

‘’The Joint Monitoring Progress 2017 state that by October 2019, Nigeria may become the country with the highest number of persons practicing open defecation.

‘’With approximately one in four persons, 47 million people having nowhere to go to toilet while the national access to basic sanitation stands at a low level of 33 per cent.

‘’Data from the recently conducted WASH National Outcome Routine Monitoring (WASHNORM) in 2018 showed a marginal reduction in access to improved water supply to 67.9 per cent with only 3.7 per cent meeting safely managed criteria for sanitation’’ he said. (NAN)
TAK/MAM/IS
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Ismail Abdulaziz

Environment

Benue’s Logo LGA on verge of attaining open-defecation-free status – official

ODF
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, April 24, 2019 (NAN) Logo Local Government Area of Benue, has fulfilled all requirements to be certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the state, the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA) has said.
The agency’s General Manager, Dr Ella Ejembi, made this known i0n an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
According to him, the National Task Group on Sanitation had in January 2019, completed validation processes for the purpose of ensuring the final certification is completed soon.
Ejembi said that the state government had been working to enhance access to sanitation with payment of N50 million counterpart funding for the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme.
He noted that although challenges of farmer-herdsmen crisis had led to relapse of efforts made, the state government was working to strengthen activities to scale up sanitation in the state.
Ejembi said that the agency would continue to play its part to scale up RUSHPIN programme in three more local government areas of Ado, Buruku and Gboko to complement efforts of the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF).
He called for more support to reduce the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, saying this became necessary because of continuous complaints from development partners of overstretching of facilities in the camps.
According to him, there is the need to come to the aid of the IDPs in the state, stressing that with access to potable water and sanitation facilities, their condition of living would improve.
“We in Benue state are asking for more support to improve lives of IDPs in the state, the camp is still functioning well due to challenges of insecurity and all other issues.
“We need these interventions in areas of access to potable water, access to toilet facilities, with the way the population is expanding; we cannot fold our hands and do nothing.”
The general manager bemoaned continued influx of displaced persons from Cameroon, stressing the need for policies to be put in place to control migration.
He noted that the agency had executed 638 water projects in partnership with the state government, the Department for International Development, UNICEF in eight local governments in the state.
“Out of the figure, 594 were hand pumps, while 44 were motorised boreholes. We have also rehabilitated over 344 others across the state.”
Ejembi listed the benefiting local government areas to include Ogbadigbo, Obi, Oju, Tarka, Buruku, Guma, Konshisha and Katsina-Ala.
On sanitation, he explained that 197 VIP latrines had been built across the state, while 2,000 communities had been declared open defecation free as a result of efforts of the agency over the years.
He said that the state had designed a roadmap aimed at declaring Benue Open Defecation Free by 2025.
In June 2014, Nigeria benefited from the Global Sanitation Fund five million dollars to meet the sanitation and hygiene challenges in Benue and Cross River states.
The RUSHPIN is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Global Sanitation Fund, the grant-giving body of the UN Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
The innovation sees international funding matched by national, regional and local funding, setting a framework for replication to achieve the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025. (NAN)
TAK/OSA/GY
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Grace Yussuf

Environment

UNICEF seeks community ownership of project to sustain ODF status of Yakurr LG

UNICEF
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 3, 2018 (NAN) UNICEF has called for continuous engagement of communities to take ownership of the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) project in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River to sustain its ODF status.

 

Mr Collins Njoku, the UNICEF Consultant on Yakurr Local Government Area (LGA, made the call in Abuja on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

 

Njoku, who commented on the recent attainment of ODF status by Yakurr LGA, after meeting all criteria in the ODF Protocols, underscored the need to put in place pragmatic measures to prevent the communities from relapsing to open defecation practices.

 

He also said that it was important to review previous Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) targets, milestones and results.

 

“It is imperative to identify achievements, best practices, gaps, lessons learnt, challenges and way forward.

 

“Continuous engagement with communities is crucial to community ownership of the programme because it confers on the community members a sense of recognition, pride and fulfilment.

 

“The role gender mainstreaming plays in the programme implementation and development cannot be over-emphasised, as it is imperative in addressing the specific needs of men and women,’’ he said.

 

Njoku listed some challenges facing the programme as conflicts among some Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM) members, communal conflicts in some centres and uncooperative attitude of some traditional rulers.

 

On gender mainstreaming in programme sustainability efforts, the UNICEF official stressed the need to promote women empowerment, poverty reduction and gender equity, as part of efforts to impact positively on the lives of children and the people.

 

He stressed that the sustainability of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and ODF projects would foster disease reduction, safety of the girl-child and promotion of school enrolment and overall human dignity.

 

“Elimination of Open Defecation by 2025 and Achievement of the SDGs, which are milestones set aside by the United Nations for domestication by member countries, provided the leading lights.

 

“With deliberate policies through multi-sectoral collaboration and communities’ ownership of these programmes, ODF communities could sustain their status,’’ he said. (NAN)
TAK/OIF/OOK
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Dayo Komolafe

Environment

FG declares Dass council in Bauchi State Open Defecation free

 

 

NAN-AE-10
Celebration
By Tosin Kolade

Dass, (Bauchi), March 5, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government on Monday, declared Dass Local Government Area in Bauchi State Open Defecation Free (ODF).

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, did the official declaration of the ODF status in Bauchi.

Dr Musa Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry represented the minister at the occasion.

He said the feat was achieved in partnership with other implementing partners, adding that it showed that Nigeria was close to meeting the ODF target by 2025.

Adamu said the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Diagnostic Report by the World Bank showed that Nigeria had made steady progress in the provision of safe water.

He, however, expressed concern that the nation had not made corresponding progress in sanitation and hygiene sector.

The minister, who said efforts in the past to address sanitation challenges yielded minimal results, assured that that a critical look at the issues showed that it would not be business as usual.

He said the ministry had launched the Partnership for Expanded Water Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme to seek stakeholders’ commitment to improve access to WASH, especially in the rural areas.

The minister said the ministry had started providing sanitation and hygiene facilities in the country with special consideration for the North-East, as part of its responses to the humanitarian needs of the people.

“The benefits of access to WASH facilities, especially of living in an Open Defecation Free environment, impacts on the education, health, security and socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

“In this regard, I wish to commend the people of Dass Local Government Area for their commitment toward behavioural change,’’ he said.

He urged the people of the area to be steadfast in such behaviour, adding that a relapse would deny them the inherent benefits of WASH facilities.

Mr Garba Magaji, Permanent Secretary, Bauchi Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), said the celebration marked a significant milestone in the history of the state over 15 years ago.

Magaji said with collaborative partnership with other stakeholders, the state had been able to have 351 communities working with hygiene promoters to sustain practices through the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach.

He said hand washing, at critical times with tippy taps, was now being practiced in 70 schools, with no fewer than 21,198 households imbibing same practice for overall hygiene promotion.

The permanent secretary said it was worthy of note that no one in the entire local government defecates in the open.

He asserted that the impact was already being felt with the reduction in visits to hospitals and an increase in pupils’ attendance and completion of schools.

Magaji pledged the commitment of the agency to sustain the ODF status by moving up toward attaining the total sanitation status of improving the quality of households and public toilets, and over hygiene promotion in the state.

Mr Suleiman Ayuba, Bauchi State Commissioner for Water Resources, said the achievement was worthy of celebration.

He said the feat was made possible with support from the U.K. Department for International Development/UNICEF in its Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) project.

Ayuba thanked the donor agencies and partners for their commitment toward scaling up sanitation and hygiene in the state.

The commissioner said that Warji and Gamawa Local Government Areas were also working to meet the ODF status.

Ayuba said with the advent of the Sustainable Development Goals,(SDGs), there was the need to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to scale up access to water and sanitation in all parts of the country.

This, the commissioner said, would go a long way to promote wellbeing and reduce preventable illnesses and deaths, especially among under-five children.

Mr Drissa Yeo, of UNICEF Nigeria Field Office, said the agency was honoured to be part of the celebration, following the concerted efforts put in over the years.

Yeo commended the Bauchi State Government and the people of Dass Local Government Area for their commitment to move up the sanitation ladder.

He said that their efforts had led to more than seven more councils benefiting from the SHAWN project.

He stated that the impacts of the interventions cut across all the 351 communities, institutions and public places in the state.

Yeo said there was a reduction in cases of water and sanitation-related diseases among the populace.

He called on the state government to sustain the momentum to ensure that the people did not return to practicing open defecation.

“UNICEF, therefore, calls on government, communities, religious and traditional leaders and all stakeholders to maintain the momentum and ensure this enviable achievement is sustained.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that there are certain protocols and guidelines that must be followed before a community or local government area is declared ODF.

They include the construction and use of clean hygienic latrines and having hand washing facilities at the toilets with access to soap or ash.

Nigeria developed the National Open Defecation Road Map to eliminate ODF in2025. (NAN)
TAK/MOL/DUA

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Dada Ahmed

Environment

Group insists 15 persons maximum to share household toilet

NAN-AE-4

Toilets
By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, Aug. 1, 2017 (NAN) The National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) has emphasised that a maximum of 15 persons are allowed to share a household toilet while 45 persons are allowed to share a communal toilet.

The Chairman of the group, Mr Emmanuel Awe said this on the sidelines of the NTGS meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Awe said the information on the number of persons to share toilets had become necessary, following an update on review of the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Protocol.

According to him, the protocol seeks to address emerging issues on Community Led Total Sanitation implementation toward ending open defecation practice.

He said the protocol also highlighted the need for separate toilets for boys and girls in schools, adding that this would help in overall hygiene promotion and menstrual hygiene management.

While commending WaterAid and UNICEF for the role they played in reviewing the protocol, Awe urged stakeholders to abide by the provisions toward making Nigeria Open defecation-free by 2025.

Awe said Dass Local Government Area in Bauchi was set to become the second local government areas to be declared open defecation free, after Obanliku in Cross River.

He commended the Emir of Dass for enforcing sanctions on those who failed to build and use their toilets.

“This has made it possible to attain this goal. Out of the 351 communities in the local government area, 85 per cent of them have been validated and certified ODF.

“Out of the 351 communities in the area, 85 per cent were verified and we saw that they all abided by the ODF protocol to ensure that they build and use their toilets.

“We want to commend the Emir for his passion to see to it that people don’t defecate in the open, he made sure he sanctioned people who failed to abide by the law.”

He said this achievement would be celebrated, adding that ending open defecation was part of the commitment of the Federal Government before 2025.

According to him, the adverse effect of open defecation is one of the lead causes of deaths and illnesses in children, especially in under-fives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the document on National Roadmap on Making Nigeria Open Defecation-Free by 2025, which indicates that improved sanitation and hygiene are fundamental to child-survival, socio-economic development and wellbeing.

The report says access to improved sanitation has declined over time, with no fewer than 70 million people lacking access to improved sanitation.

According to the report, more than 45 million of them are practicing open defecation in Nigeria.

Community Led Total Sanitation has been proven to be an effective approach toward accelerating sanitation access in the country, having grown from 15 ODF communities in 2008 to over 14,000 in 2016.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu had said that Nigeria was among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation.

According to him, the practice has a negative effect on the populace.

Adamu explained that the cost benefit of investment in sanitation and health, economic and education sectors could not be overemphasised, adding that it would go a long way in contributing to economic growth and development. (NAN)

TAK/MO/EEE
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Edited by Morayo Omolade/Ese E. Ekama