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Nigerian Govt to use FCT as open defecation-free model

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The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has disclosed that efforts are underway to use the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as an Open Defecation-Free (ODF) model for other states to emulate.

Adamu told newsmen in Abuja that the approach was to consolidate on current progress, in collaboration with the Clean Nigeria Campaign secretariat.

He said the FCT administration had supported the approach with the donation of 80 locations to be used for the construction of public toilets within the nation’s capital.

According to the Minister, a lot of work is being done in the Kuje Area council to get it open defecation-free before the end of 2022.

In his words, “In the FCT, the FCT administration has just given us about 80 locations for people to build public toilets so that we start with the FCT, and then the Clean Nigeria Campaign also, we have taken a position that we are going to put a lot of support on FCT.

“I think we are now working on Kuje area council, hopefully, we will get it open defecation free, before the end of the year, I hope. So we are going to make the FCT as a model for the rest of the country, that is our new approach now.

“We have also had a lot of engagement with ALGON, we have the National Orientation Agency, a lot is going on, and I hope before the end of the year, we will begin to see something.

“Regarding open defecation at least in the FCT, very soon, it’s going to be a thing of the past, because its private sector-driven and the FCT has given the land, people will build the toilets themselves and they will charge the fee for people to use it for whatever; shower, and the rest of it.’’

According to him, the Nigerian Government has shown the biggest commitment with the declaration of a state of emergency in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sectors.

The minister however called on all tiers of government to demonstrate strong political will for Nigeria to meet its open defecation-free target by 2025.

NAN reports that in February, the FCT Rural Water Supply Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) called for collaboration to build 2,000 toilets in public places to enable the FCT to achieve open defecation-free status in the six area councils by 2025.

(NAN)

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