Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign Conference, said that only 142 Local Government Areas out of the 744 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) in Nigeria have been certified open defecation free by the Federal Government.

Mrs. Chizoma Opara, the National Coordinator of the conference, disclosed this at a one day Sensitisation Programme organised by the conference in Awka on Friday.

The campaign was organised by the National Water Resources Building Network, South East Centre in collaboration with Clean Nigeria, Use The Toilet and Environment Development.

Opara regretted that Nigeria, at the 21st Century, still talked about open defecation and described the act as “high lack of commitment” by the stakeholders who should know better and drive the advocacy down to the grassroots for greater success impact.

“We need to encourage better sanitation in the country as poor water supply and hygiene as well as environmental degradation is a big challenge in Nigeria.

“Three LGAs in Anambra state comprising Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North have also been certified open defecation free by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) and urged more efforts to cover all the states in the South East.

“Genuine commitment by key stakeholders, religious bodies, traditional rulers, women, youth groups and private individuals in combating the menace of open defecation in Nigeria is apt,” she said

She called on Nigerians to develop the spirit of patriotism in the comprehensive war against open defecation in every part of the country with a view to reducing it to barest minimum.

Opara said that the programme were hinged on advocacy on behavioral change, imbibing a whole lot of culture and capacity building among Nigerians for holistic fight of the holocaust in the country by all.

She said that the organisation would soon come up with a new strategy anchored on five pillars to include funding, creating of an enabling environment, environmental awareness campaign, advocacy and communication among others.

She called on those in the private sector and philanthropists in the state to key in to drive to change the narratives of open defecation in Nigeria as government could not do it alone.

Earlier, Mr  Ike- Obi Ejiofor, the Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anambra State Water Resources Management Agency, said that the essence of the event was to interact and to drive the five states in the South- East to clean and hygienic environment.

He described the attendance of the event by the five Commissioners of power and water resources in the South- East as a clear testament that the Coordinator of the programme had a very strong strategy.

Ejiofor noted that in 2019 and 2020, Anambra was declared open defecation free with particular reference to Anambra East, Aguata and Nnewi North respectively by the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).

Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ike Chebelu, represented by Prof. Ada Omeyi, said that the theme of the event was in line with the university’s administration.

He described open defecation as unhealthy anywhere in the world, adding that his office was doing everything possible to keep the institution clean and to ensure availability of water in all corners of the University.

The Director-General, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, represented by Mr.Mike Nwode, stated that the sensitisation campaign was apt and timely considering the efforts the Federal  Government made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDP).

He said that the goal was to target universal access to safe and affordable water and access to sanitation and hygiene and to end open defecation by 2030 in the country.

According to him, Nigeria is losing about N450 billion to poor sanitation annually.

The Director, National Water Resources Capacity Building Network (NWRCBNet) South East, Prof Emma Ezenwaji, challenged Nigerian youths to come together and form WASH associations at community level to solve holistically the challenges of the programme in the country.

In another lecture on “The Role of Young People in Clean Nigeria Campaign”, the  Coordinator, Youth Wash Initiative  Africa, Mr. Uchenna Obiakor, urged Nigerian youths and other stakeholders in the sector to see the issues of water, environmental and physical hygiene as a collective responsibility.

Obiakor encouraged the youths to drive meaningful and impactful development programmes in the country especially in the area of service to humanity.

Mr Francis Ekwempu of the Environment Development Initiative for Africa, (EDAI), stated that any money committed in the Clean Nigeria Campaign was not in vain but a commitment to improve healthy living  in Nigeria.

Earlier,the Traditional Ruler of Umuawuku Community, Awka South LGA , Dr.Joel Egwuonwu, appealed to governments at all levels and wealthy Nigerians to assist in funding Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet Campaign to save Nigerians, from contracting dreaded diseases associated with poor sanitation and poor  hygienic environment.

In his contribution, Mr Golden Iloh, the Member, representing Ihiala two constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly and Chairman House  Committee on Power and Water Resources, described the event as worth emulating and implementing.

Iloh said that Anambra State was a model where the leadership of the state wanted to build livable and sustainable  mega city, promising that he would initiate a move to make law on the open defecation in the state within three months.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Mr.Julius Chukwuemeka, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Victor Ezekwo, described the Soludo administration in the state as environment friendly.

Chukwurmeka said  that the present government was working in all sectors of the state economy simultaneously, referencing the current water supply in Nnewi, Awka and Onitsha as a clear example. (NAN)