In a bid to end Open Defecation in the country the Federal Capital Territory Administration has accelerated access to safe water and improved hygienic practices for residents in the territory.
FCT Minister of State , Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu who officially declared a State of Emergency in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the capital city lamented that at least 39.4 percent residents practice Open Defecation, adding that the practice is unacceptable.
She disclosed that the administration has established the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, ( RUWASSA), to tackle open defecation in the FCT.
She stressed that the FCTA is committed to meet 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.
She said,” 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 the elderly all have important role to open.”
The minister furthermore called on Community-based organisations, religious and traditional leaders, organised private sector entities, development partners to synergize to fight this menace.
She urged Area Council chairmen to be committed to ending open defecation and to create the WASH department, fund it, train and retrain its staff, and follow up with rigorous community engagements.
She called on other stakeholders like traditional institutions, community and households to join in the war against Open Defecation in their communities.
Present at the occasion, 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.
Adamu 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.
FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola revealed that the administration has replaced about 1,000 water compartment toilets as well as repair of vandalized borehole systems across the six area councils and in public schools.
