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)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf