Kwara govt reiterates commitment to ending open defecation
Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to provide clean water and promote a hygienic environment.
Kwara First Lady, Amb. Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin during the week at a meeting with private sectors on Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), held at G-Pinnacle Hotel, Ilorin, the state capital.
At the programme organised by Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), the First Lady, who was represented at the event by Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon Usman Yinusa Lade, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to curbing open defecation.
“Government is doing a lot to achieve open defecation free status, by insisting that every household, school and community have access to good toilet facilities and clean water supply, across the state.” She stated.
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, hailed Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitments to payments of counterpart funds, which she noted is fundamental to realising the objectives of the WASH programme.
She pledged a robust partnership of her Ministry with RUWASSA on awareness creation, among other purposes.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Community Development, Dr Lawal Olalekan Olohungbebe, decried the habit of erecting residential or offices without toilet facilities, with a warning that such habits must stop to eradicate open defecation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Manager of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr Olorunfemi Adewumi Oladipo, noted that the meeting was imperative to end open defecation in the state and as well build a future devoid of health hazards in the State of Harmony.
Oladipo explained that the year 2018 WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping Survey revealed that 47 million Nigerians still indulge in open defecation, noting this has dire consequences, including a threat to people’s health.
The general manager commended this administration’s dedication to improving the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector in the state, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve tremendous success.
“There is the need for collective actions by critical stakeholders, such as private sectors, civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, development partners, and the media.” He concluded
The resource persons, Professor Henry Olawale Sawyerr and Reverend Aina Jide Taiwo, in their separate remarks, said it is commendable that Kwara State has improved from 35th to 25th in rank on the attainment of free open defecation.
Dignitaries at the meeting include Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Iman, her education and Human Capital Development counterpart, Hajiah Sa’adatu Madibo Kawu, and heads of media organisations, among others.
