As part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Federal Government has urged the Rivers State Government to fulfill its part of agreement towards ending open defecation by the year 2030.

Findings show that Nigeria is among the countries with the highest number of people practicing open defecation. The Federal Government revealed that out of the 36 states in the country, only Jigawa State is free from open defecation, a situation described as poor, emphasising the need for other state governments to collaborate with the federal authorities to eradicate open defecation.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, who stated this in Port Harcourt during a familiarisation tour to the Niger Delta Basin Authority (NDBA) facilities and projects in Rivers State, said eradicating open defecation will improve hygiene, sanitation and health standard of the people.

He explained that the visit was aimed at assessing infrastructure, programmes of the authority required to meet the agenda of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring a better society.

He said: “To end open defecation and enthrone hygiene, we need to construct toilets at the motor parks, hospitals, schools and public places to ensure the objective is achieved. So, the Rivers State government needs to come on board. There is a need for us to build synergy between the three tiers of government to ensure that this is achieved.”

The minister also explained that access to potable water is part of the mandate of the ministry, and assuring that it will be delivered. “We are targeting about 500 hectares of land across the country under irrigation. We cannot succeed without completing all our dams that are under construction, ensuring we complete the projects.

“We will engage state governments in allocation of lands, while we provide water for irrigation, the government is supposed to give the Certificate of Occupancy to ensure that the land belongs to the farmers to avoid any issue with the farmers,” he said.

“The government is serious about improving the lives of Nigerians, ensuring food security, wealth creation and youth empowerment”

“Some projects that will drive this have been completed, while some are ongoing, we are determined to complete more projects and initiate new ones.”