NEWS
142 LGAs Certified Open Defecation Free – Official
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)
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed a purported recruitment update circulating on social media, describing it as false and not originating from the Service.
The Service, in a statement, urged members of the public to disregard the misleading information and refrain from sharing unverified content capable of misleading prospective applicants and the general public.
The NCS advised Nigerians to rely solely on information published through its official communication channels for accurate updates on recruitment exercises and other activities of the Service.
It reiterated that its verified social media platforms remain the authentic sources of information and urged the public to always verify recruitment-related announcements before acting on them or sharing them with others.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Nigeria’s broad money supply (M3) increased for the second consecutive month, rising to N133.25 trillion in June 2026 from N129.21 trillion recorded in May, according to the latest Money and Credit Statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest data showed that money supply expanded by N4.
04 trillion month-on-month, despite the apex bank’s decision to maintain its benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent.The increase reflects the continued growth in liquidity within the economy, even as the CBN maintains a cautious approach aimed at controlling inflation, managing liquidity and sustaining macroeconomic stability.
Broad money supply, also known as M3, includes currency in circulation outside banks, demand deposits, savings and time deposits, as well as foreign currency deposits.
CBN figures also revealed a significant year-on-year growth in money supply, with M3 rising from N117.25 trillion in June 2025 to N133.25 trillion in June 2026.
This represents an increase of approximately N16 trillion, or 13.59 per cent, over the one-year period.
A breakdown of the statistics showed that M2, which comprises narrow money (M1), quasi-money, demand deposits and currency outside banks, rose to N133.24 trillion in June from N129.20 trillion in May.
The expansion in liquidity was largely driven by growth in quasi-money and domestic assets during the period under review.
Quasi-money increased from N84.58 trillion in May to N88.54 trillion in June, while demand deposits recorded a marginal rise from N39.43 trillion to N39.78 trillion.
However, currency held outside the banking system declined from N5.19 trillion in May to N4.92 trillion in June, indicating that more funds remained within the formal banking system.
Further analysis of the CBN data showed that net domestic assets grew by 4.37 per cent, rising from N102.26 trillion in May to N106.73 trillion in June.
Net foreign assets recorded a slight decline of 1.56 per cent, falling from N26.95 trillion to N26.53 trillion during the same period.
Overall, broad money supply expanded by 3.11 per cent month-on-month, highlighting sustained liquidity growth despite the CBN’s restrictive monetary policy measures.
The money supply figures came days after the apex bank retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent at the conclusion of its 305th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
The committee also kept all other monetary policy parameters unchanged, signalling its commitment to sustaining the disinflation process while protecting macroeconomic stability.
Analysts noted that the continued rise in money supply presents a challenge for the CBN as it seeks to strike a balance between supporting economic activities, managing liquidity and preventing renewed inflationary pressures.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Sports Development has criticised the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for failure to honour invitations to appear before it, warning that continued disregard for legislative oversight could attract disciplinary action.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), expressed its displeasure during a meeting on Wednesday, describing the absence of officials from both organisations as unacceptable and an impediment to the committee’s constitutional oversight functions.
Ningi revealed that separate invitation letters were sent to the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, to remove any ambiguity over who should represent the agency before the committee.
He dismissed the explanations submitted by the Commission for its absence, insisting that they were unsatisfactory.
“The committee will not tolerate attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” Ningi said.
He warned that the repeated absence of senior officials was preventing the committee from effectively carrying out its legislative mandate, adding that such conduct could warrant disciplinary action by the Senate.
“It is becoming a practice that requires Senate disciplinary action against these agents of government,” he said, stressing that accountability must be upheld.
Committee members unanimously backed the chairman’s position, insisting that the leadership of both the NSC and the NFF must appear before the panel to explain issues relating to their finances and operations.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the committee directed the NSC to submit evidence of its approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, along with details of budget releases for the same period.
It also requested records of funds released to all sporting federations, including basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey, as well as evidence of statutory federal government subventions to the federations.
To verify the records, Sen. Ningi instructed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting comprehensive details of all funds released to the NSC from 2023 to date.
The committee further directed the NFF to provide detailed appropriations and releases for Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as well as comprehensive expenditure records for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ningi said a new date would be communicated to the NSC and NFF for their appearance before the committee.
Addressing National Assembly correspondents after the meeting, the senator maintained that the attitude of both organisations was unacceptable.
He reiterated that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the National Assembly to exercise oversight over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, including the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation.
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