By George George Idowu
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called for all hands of Nigerians to be on deck to end open defecation to end the spread of cholera in the country.
The vice president made the call on Friday at the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” Campaign at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He highlighted the alarming spread of cholera, which has led to significant morbidity and mortality across Nigeria, and stressed the need for the committee to focus on wastewater management and contaminated water sources.
The number two citizen emphasized the critical need to tackle open defecation, which affects approximately 47 million Nigerians highlighting the importance of hygiene and sanitation to national health and development.
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He urged the committee to collaborate with strategic stakeholders and leverage technology for sustainable solutions.
According to him, the campaign aims to mobilize resources from both the public and private sectors, emphasizing the role of youth and women in driving change.
In support, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev presented a report detailing both challenges and successes since the campaign’s inception in 2016.
The initiative, targeting the eradication of open defecation by 2025, seeks to mobilize nationwide support, track progress, and promote sanitation culture.
Prof. Utsev also emphasized the economic and health impacts of open defecation, calling for significant investment and collaboration across various ministries to achieve the campaign’s goals.
