By Yahaya Idris, Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has joined the fight against into the open defecation in the country and accelerated access to safe water, aimed at improving hygienic practices for all residents of the territory.
Performing the official declaration of a State of Emergency in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the nation’s capital, Abuja, Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, revealed that 39.4 percent of the FCT population engaged in open defecation, just as she described it as alarming and unacceptable.
A press release signed by Austin Elemue, Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Media and Publicity, Dr Aliyu also stated that as part of efforts in the battle against open defecation, the administration has established the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), as the coordinating body for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities in the FCT.
She, therefore, stressed the commitment of the FCT administration in meeting the Open Defecation Free (ODF) target before the nationally set date of 2025, and universal access to water and sanitation by the SDG target of 2030.
While stressing the importance of basic water supply in rural communities, the minister however, advocated for a concerted efforts towards winning the battle against open defecation
According to her; “To achieve the goal of ending open defecation by 2025, all hands must be on deck in both the formal and informal sectors, the children, the youth, women and the elderly, all have important roles to play.
“Community-based organisations, religious and traditional leaders, organised private sector entities, development partners, as well as all government agencies are also expected to work in synergy to fight this menace”.
Specifically, she tasked the Area Councils Chairmen to sign and demonstrate their commitment to end open defecation, stressing that they must create the WASH department, fund it, train and retrain its staff, and follow up with rigorous community engagements.
“Additionally, our traditional institutions across the territory are expected to galvanise their subjects in this fight. Community and household members are enjoined to cooperate with relevant stakeholders, and rise up to win this war against open defecation in their respective communities,” she added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said that the country was making steady progress in meeting the objective of ending open defecation by 2025 and improving sustainable access to sanitation and hygiene.
He therefore, charged the institutions at the area councils and communities to drive the campaign through the provision of adequate resources, thereby creating the critical mass of champions across the territory.
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Earlier, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, noted that as part of its commitment, the administration had inaugurated a high-powered committee for the assessment and replacement of about 1,000 water compartment toilets as well as repair of vandalized borehole systems across the six area councils and in public schools.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the traditional rulers, chairman of ALGON FCT, UNICEF representative, and other development partners
