By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has joined the national struggle to end open defecation and pave way for access to safe water and improved hygienic practices for all residents of the Nation’s capital, Abuja.
During the declaration of a State of Emergency in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) on Tuesday, the minister of state for FCT Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, disclosed that 39.4 percent of the FCT population practices open defecation, just as she described it as alarming and unacceptable.
She 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.
The minister, 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
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 own this war against Open Defecation in their respective communities,” she added.
On his part, 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.
