Minister of Water Resources Declares War on Open Defecation

…Plans to Recognizes Best-Performing River Basin MD

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev unveiled plans to combat open defecation in 669 Local Government Areas, emphasizing the need for a behavioural change campaign, stating that only 105 local governments are currently open-defecation-free

Prof. Utsev, who disclosed this during a media roundtable in Abuja recently, expressed concern about citizens’ reluctance to use available toilets, urging a national effort to address this sanitation crisis.

The minister pledged to construct toilets across local governments and emphasized the importance of a targeted monthly approach to achieve open-defecation-free status.

“Toilets are going to be constructed for people to use, but you will be surprised that some people will still not use the toilets.

“They have the toilets, but they will leave their toilets and defecate outside. The campaign will get to such people for them to know that they need to use those toilets.

“We have 774 local governments in Nigeria, but only 105 are open defecation-free, so how can we complete the remaining ones? This is the assignment for all of us. We need to target a specific number of local governments monthly”, he said.

Speaking on the ministry’s achievements in the first hundred days in office, the minister disclosed that during his nationwide familiarization tour of the 12 River Basin Development Authority, he flagged off the Dry Season Farming for all the RBDAS in Benin City.

He said, “ Having already visited 16 state governors, we pledged to continue seeking partnerships to enhance sanitation and agricultural productivity.”

Also, in a bid to recognize excellence, the minister announced the upcoming Ministerial Excellence Award for the best-performing Managing Director among the twelve river basin development authorities.

Utsev said the award aims to acknowledge outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability, job creation, and economic growth.