MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES PARTNERS NOA TO END OPEN DEFECATION BY 2025

 Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to end open defecation, improve access to water and good hygiene to all Nigerians within the shortest possible time.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, gave this indication in a message to a One-day Capacity Building Workshop organized for Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Owerri.

The Minister represented by the Acting National Coordinator, “Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign,” Mrs. Chisoma Opara, said statistics indicate that more than forty million Nigerians lacked access to toilet facilities, thereby engaging in open defecation. According to the Minister, the Ministry having realized the strategic role of the National Orientation Agency in reaching out to Nigerians, embarked on partnership to adequately sensitize the populace.

NOA Director in Imo State, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha, explained that health hazards posed by open defecation necessitated the signing of Executive Order 9 by President Muhammadu Buhari to end open defecation by 2025.

Mr. Ekeocha noted that the Order empowered States and Local Government Councils to adopt measures to prevent open defecation and gave an assurance that the NOA would embark on aggressive campaign against the practice in the twenty seven local government areas of the state.

 The theme for the event was “Citizen Engagement towards Eradication of Open Defecation in Nigeria by the Year 2025.”