The Federal Government on Thursday acknowledged that its initial target to eradicate open defecation in Nigeria by 2025 is no longer feasible.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation revealed that a new deadline has been set for 2030.

At a two-day workshop in Nasarawa State, organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with Self Help Africa, the government, as part of efforts to meet the new target, deepened its partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to enhance community sanitation practices.

The workshop, which brought together Community Development Service (CDS) focal officers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, aimed to mobilise corps members in driving the Clean Nigeria Campaign.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, represented by the Director of Reforms, Moses Madugu, highlighted the scale of the problem, with over 48 million Nigerians still practicing open defecation.

According to him, while commendable progress has been made—136 Local Government Areas and Jigawa State have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF)—Pheelangwah acknowledged that the pace of progress has been slow.

“Open defecation has severe health, environmental, and economic consequences. Although we’ve seen significant strides, we must redouble our efforts to meet our revised target of eradicating this menace by 2030,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary outlined ongoing initiatives, such as the Partnership for Expanded Water Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH), and the YouthWASH program, which aims to leverage NYSC members to promote sanitation practices at the grassroots level.

Pheelangwah stressed the importance of the NYSC in driving the behavioural change.

“Through their Community Development Service activities, corps members can trigger a sanitation revolution to end open defecation in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the recently reviewed strategic plan for the campaign, launched in November 2024 by Vice President Kashim Shettima, aligns with these goals.

The Director-General of the NYSC, represented by Deputy Director of Education, Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, assured the scheme’s commitment to the campaign. She called on CDS officers to intensify grassroots advocacy and community engagement.

In a briefing on efforts made so far, the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, admitted that the initial 2025 target was not feasible.

“Achieving the revised target of 2030 requires stronger collaboration, enhanced community engagement, and greater awareness. Jigawa State became ODF due to high-level political commitment. Other governors must emulate this approach,” Opara said, while also urging private sector participation and international partnerships to sustain progress.

On his part, the National Coordinator of YouthWASH Africa, Nature Obiako, described the workshop as a strategic move to integrate youth into sanitation initiatives.

“The involvement of youth is pivotal to ensuring sustainable sanitation practices, and we are committed to supporting this cause,” he noted.