The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has pledged to support Benue State in achieving Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status before the end of 2025, joining Jigawa as the only state to meet the national sanitation target.
Utsev made this vow on Wednesday during the third National Retreat on Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet campaign, organised in collaboration with CLRA Nigeria.
The retreat brought together key stakeholders, including state commissioners, sanitation agency heads, development partners, and private sector representatives, to assess progress and discuss strategies to accelerate the eradication of open defecation nationwide.
“Since the launch of this campaign in 2019, we have remained resolute in our mission to rid Nigeria of open defecation. However, the responsibility of driving implementation lies with state governments. We call on all states to follow Jigawa’s example and accelerate efforts toward achieving ODF status,” Utsev stated.
He said that despite some progress, 142 out of 774 local governments have been declared ODF, and Jigawa remains the only fully open defecation-free state.
Chizoma Okpara, National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria campaign, stressed the need for greater commitment and resource allocation at state and local government levels.
“We launched this campaign five years ago. Looking back, what has worked? High-level commitment from the Minister, Permanent Secretary, and other stakeholders has helped drive awareness. However, challenges such as delays in fund assessment have slowed progress. It is not just about hosting workshops but implementing tangible action plans,” Okpara remarked.
Dr Jane Bevan, UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), praised Nigeria’s evolving strategies but stressed the need for a market-driven approach to sanitation.
“This new strategy is fantastic. However, achieving Open Defecation-Free status must be prioritised before we shift to sanitation maintenance. Toilet businesses should be handled by the local private sector to ensure sustainability,” Bevan noted.
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The minister also unveiled newly developed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, designed to support behaviour change campaigns, and a new logo for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme was also introduced to boost awareness and stakeholder engagement.
