The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, announced that the National Task Group on Sanitation has declared eight additional Local Government Areas open defecation-free.
Utsev, who made the announcement in a press statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Funmi Imuetinyan, on Thursday, noted that this achievement marks a critical step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to achieve the national ODF target.
“Nigeria’s commitment to becoming ODF by 2030 has received a significant boost with the recent declaration of eight additional LGAs as ODF across two states: Kano and Kebbi,” he said.
Utsev explained that the NTGS, a multi-sectoral platform involving key stakeholders from relevant ministries, government agencies, development partners, non-governmental organisations, and the media, validated and declared the eight LGAs ODF during its monthly meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The newly declared ODF LGAs are Kiru, Bagwai, Dawakin Tofa, Gaya, Shanono, Gabasawa, Ungogo (Kano State); and Shanga (Kebbi State),” he stated.
With these additions, the minister noted that the total number of ODF LGAs in the country now stands at 134.
Recently, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako, highlighted that about 48 million Nigerians still engage in open defecation, despite having only a year left to meet the deadline to end the practice in Nigeria.
Salako also stressed that over 159 million Nigerians lack access to hand-washing facilities, adding that the FG needs to build one million public toilets across the country’s six geo-political zones.
However, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation added that the inclusion of the eight LGAs as ODF underscores ongoing efforts to enhance public health, sanitation, and environmental sustainability across Nigeria.