Kwara govt collaborates with council chairs to end open defecation as Nigeria ranked 2nd globally
The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, has urged local government chairmen and council officials to take decisive action in their jurisdictions to eradicate open defecation across the State.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Lade Yinusa, stated this during a one-day Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) stakeholders engagement meeting with chairmen and their Directors of Personnel and Management, tagged “Eradication of Open Defecation in Kwara State,” organised by the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) in the State.
Represented by Mrs. Christiana Omolola Ashonibare, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Commissioner highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives, including sensitisation programmes across all local government areas, aimed at promoting a healthier Kwara. She emphasised that the government is fully committed to addressing the health needs of citizens.
The General Manager of RUWASSA, Mr Olorunfemi Adewumi Oladipo, commended Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq for prioritising the health of citizens. He noted that the meeting was crucial to discuss key issues related to public health, dignity, and sustainable development.
World Toilet Day: Five Kwara communities declared open defecation-free
Mr Oladipo shared that RUWASSA has made significant progress in the fight against open defecation through collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other development partners. Efforts include Community-Led Total Sanitation, Monitoring and Evaluation, the provision of smart toilets and WASH facilities in critical communities, and funding support.
He, however, said six communities in the Oke Ero Local Government Area have been certified as open defecation-free through RUWASSA’s interventions.
He also reaffirmed the Agency’s dedication to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by expanding sanitation infrastructure, promoting behavioural change, enforcing policies and regulations, and fostering partnerships for sustainability.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacist Barakat Olanrewaju, underscored the serious health, environmental, and socio-economic consequences of open defecation, while for the establishment of WASH departments at the local government level.
According to UNICEF, over 120 million people in West and Central Africa engage in open defecation, with Nigeria ranking second globally, with 47 million cases.
