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FG Moves To End Open Defecation

Published

4 years ago

January 13, 2023

As part of efforts towards putting an end to open defecation in the country, the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has assured that his Ministry will continue to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other stakeholders in line with the commitment of the *”Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet”* campaign launched by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration in 2019.

The Minister gave the assurance on Thursday in his office in Abuja, when the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu paid him a courtesy visit.

Dare stated that Nigeria is ranked second among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation estimated at over 48 million, adding that the practice has had a negative effect on the populace and has therefore contributed to the country’s inability to meet up with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
He stated further that the abysmal ranking prompted Mr. President to describe the statistics on open defecation and access to pipeborne water services and sanitation as disturbing, thus declaring his commitment to implementing the National Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan in consonance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Charter.

To achieve this policy objective therefore, Dare informed that his Ministry in 2021 held a nationwide Sensitization programme tagged, “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” Campaign which was carried out through lectures/training, distribution of posters, installation of Bill boards/advertisements to educate Nigerians on the negative effects of open defecation across the six geopolitical zones, with youth as vanguards to help drive the campaign further.

Dare who identified the teeming Nigerian Youth as central to the realization of any policy objective of government, assured that his Ministry will partner with the Water Resources Ministry through the NYSC Scheme to further drive the policy objective using advocacy programmes.

Earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu stated that he was in the Ministry to seek collaborations on how to end open defecation in the country.
He called on all levels of government to continue to promote and priotise disease control and prevention through adequate and equitable access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services so as to curtail the spread of diseases while focusing on hygiene behaviour change interventions.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, called for collective approach in the fight against open defecation through Sensitization, advocacy and public enlightenment across the country.

Also speaking, the Acting Director General, National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Mrs. Christy Uba, pledged the total commitment of the Scheme to the campaign with a view to ensuring the realization of the policy objective on open defecation.

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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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