Seven local government areas have been declared by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Katsina and Benue states Open-Defecation-Free (ODF), having met the hygiene promotion criteria set out in the ODF protocol.
Emmanuel Awe, Director, Federal Ministry of Water Management , Water Quality Supply and Sanitation, announced the ODF areas on Thursday after meeting the stipulated requirement.
The areas include: Bakori, Musawa, Matazu, Safana and Sandamu LGAs in Katsina, respectively, while Oju and Konshisha LGAs in Benue.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that communities should have eliminated open defecation and imbibed complete sanitation activities, including personal, environmental and domestic hygiene, before attaining the ODF status.
The people will also have had 100 per cent usage of the toilet and improved control and maintenance of sanitation and hygiene facilities.
According to him, as of May 28, 2020, the achievement earns the country a minimum of 27 LGAs.
“The states had also recommended that the National Task Group on Sanitation to validate their status, and we have considered the report of the committee who went on validation.
“These seven LGAs have now changed their status from Open defecation to ODF, thereby increasing the total number of LGAs that are ODF to 27 in the country.
“I urge all stakeholders to continue with these accomplishments and aspire to end open defecation practice in the country”.
Mr Awe said that the benefits of access to improved WASH, in particular living in an open defecation-free environment, have an effect on people ‘s education, safety , security and socio-economic well-being.
Though commending development partners’ efforts to expand access to enhanced sanitation, the director urged ODF community members to remain steadfast in promoting sustainable growth.
He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria found itself with the largest number of people committing open defecation at the top of the world ladder, second behind India and first in Africa.