Water minister vows to make Benue open defecation free by 2025

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has vowed to make Benue State open defecation free before the end of 2025.

Professor Utsev made this vow at a National Retreat on the Clean Nigeria Use the Toilet Campaign and the unveiling of the National WASH Information, Education, and Communication Material in Abuja.

Professor Utsev urged all state governments present at the retreat to develop a clear, time-bound ODF Action Plan that aligns with the revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation Strategy 2025–2030.

According to the minister, in order to bridge the gap in access to WASH facilities in federal government institutions, the ministry is currently implementing the SchoolWASH and HealthWASH programmes in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Education and Health.

“We are looking at strengthening the role of the private sector to drive market-based solutions and create business opportunities for sanitation entrepreneurs such as Toilet Business Owners,” he stressed.

“Also, innovative financing models and expanded public-private partnerships to attract investment in sanitation infrastructure and services are being explored, while leveraging technology and innovations in delivering services and monitoring progress,” Professor Utsev added.

“At this juncture, I wish to challenge every state government present here today to develop a clear, time-bound ODF Action Plan that will align with the revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation Strategy 2025–2030. Also, it is highly essential to have a strong political commitment and a dedicated implementation team in your respective states to double the level of progress,” the minister emphasised.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, said achieving open defecation-free status is possible if backed by strong political will.

Pheelangwah, who was represented by the Director of Reforms Coordination, Moses Jo-Madugu, added that the federal and state governments have achieved a lot, but more still needs to be done.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving a clean Nigeria by 2030.

In her presentation, the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Use the Toilet Campaign, Mrs Chizom Opara, explained that the aim of the retreat was to evaluate the five years of the campaign. She stressed that only 142 local government areas across 20 states are now open defecation free.

Mrs Opara called for more collaborative efforts to achieve the goal of making Nigeria Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2030.

Earlier, the Gombe State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mahammed Saidu Kawo, who responded on behalf of his colleagues following the figures released, pledged commitment to developing a roadmap at the end of the retreat that would help navigate the next five years and ensure the ODF goal is achieved.

There were goodwill messages from stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, WaterAid, the Society for Water and Sanitation, UNICEF, Youth WASH Initiatives Africa, among others.

The two-day retreat had in attendance the 36 state commissioners for water resources, the FCT, development partners, and stakeholders in the water sector.