Abuja: The Federal Government celebrated Katsina and Jigawa States for reaching Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sanitation efforts.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, ODF status is awarded to areas where all residents use safe, hygienic toilets, eliminating open defecation.
Vice President Kashim Shettima acknowledged the achievement during the event commemorating the 6th anniversary of the Clean Nigeria Campaign and the upcoming 2025 World Toilet Day in Abuja. Represented by Mrs. Inna Binta-Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, the Vice President noted the celebration’s alignment with three key sanitation milestones, including the anniversary of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, the 2025 World Toilet Day, and the signing of the revised Presidential Executive Order 009 on ODF Nigeria.
Launched in 2019, the Clean Nigeria Campaign is driven by the belief that every Nigerian deserves access to safe sanitation and hygiene. The Vice President highlighted the campaign’s progress, noting the achievement of more than 150 ODF Local Government Areas and the construction of millions of new household and communal toilets across Nigeria from 2019 to 2024. Over 23 million Nigerians have gained access to improved sanitation during this time, with millions more reached through behavior-change campaigns and public advocacy.
Shettima emphasized the revised Presidential Executive Order’s role in providing a stronger legal framework for monitoring, private sector participation, and enforcement, crucial for consolidating the campaign’s gains. He also noted the administration’s prioritization of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for public health, human capital development, school attendance, and community resilience.
The event theme, ‘Sanitation in a Changing World,’ highlights the necessity of climate-smart sanitation systems as communities face challenges from climate change, urbanization, and public health issues. The Vice President called for enhanced collaboration, increased investment in sanitation infrastructure, and the implementation of climate-resilient WASH solutions to meet Nigeria’s 2030 ODF target.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, reported steady improvements in the Clean Nigeria Campaign, with 158 Local Government Areas now verified as ODF and Katsina being the latest state to achieve this status. Utsev noted the deployment of a real-time information management system for transparent reporting and ongoing capacity-building efforts to sustain progress.
UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr. Jane Bevan, praised the Clean Nigeria Campaign and UNICEF field teams for their support in achieving nationwide ODF status. Bevan reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working with the government and partners to ensure a clean, healthy environment for every Nigerian child.
The celebration included messages from various development partners, emphasizing the need for innovation, private sector involvement, and evidence-based decision-making to achieve sanitation targets by 2030. The First Lady of Kwara, Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, highlighted the importance of sustained investment, innovation, and community engagement to achieve universal sanitation.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives from WaterAid Nigeria, Self Help Africa, Sightsavers, and other stakeholders.