By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has called for attitudinal change among Nigerians as the fastest way to ending open defecation. It also urges communities to take ownership of their sanitation practices.
This call was delivered on Wednesday by Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, during a national training workshop for Open Defecation-Free (ODF) validators in Nasarawa.
The workshop aimed to refresh the knowledge of current ODF validators and train new ones to support states in achieving the national sanitation target.
Nigeria currently has 149 ODF Local Government Areas, but needs to scale up efforts to reach the 2030 target. Ugoh stressed that while infrastructure is important, the campaign’s success hinges on a mindset shift.
Facilitators at the event highlighted additional key strategies. Mrs. Chinyere Okolo noted that creating demand for sanitation products is essential for lasting solutions, as it leads to improved public health and productivity.
Another facilitator, Mrs. Abasiama Ebreso, explained that a community must meet a “total sanitation” standard to be certified, which includes not only ending open defecation but also ensuring all households and public spaces have and use proper latrines and handwashing facilities.
Challenges remain in achieving the goal, including funding issues, enforcement of sanitation laws, and low private sector involvement.
Despite these hurdles, development partners like UNICEF and the World Bank continue to support the government’s efforts.
The “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, launched in 2019, is the flagship initiative of the national roadmap to end open defecation.
