Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Hussein Adams has called on critical stakeholders to re-doubled efforts towards achieving SDGs 6 on water and sanitation to meet the nation’s target of ending open defecation by the year 2025.
He made the call at the launch of Oyo state open defecation free roadmap and declaration of state of emergency on water Sanitation and hygiene held at International Conference Centre in Ibadan.
The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Esther Walson-jack said the launch of the road map to end open defection in the state showed Oyo state government has joined the train to take Nigeria to open defection status free by year 2025 and to ensure access to basic sanitation service for every Nigerians by the year 2030.
He advised Oyo state government to empower institutional structures to end open defecation in the state.
Also,the UNICEF representative, Jane Bevan while noting that safe defecation is important to break more than 50 percent faeco-oral transmission routes and prevent diseases urging state actors to prioritize facilities where children are educated and in public places.
In an address, Governor Makinde who condermed a situation when Oyo State is second in the open defecation index in Nigeria said the government would embrace the challenge holistically.
The governor pleaded with UNICEF to spread its pilot scheme in Ona-Ara local government on Water,Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and improving access to safe water and sanitation in schools and health care facilities to other areas of the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of Oyo RUWASSA, Najeem Ominrinde said the campaign against open defecation is presently being promoted across the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
He noted that the awareness would make individuals understand the health risk of open defecation and change their attitude
The event had in attendance former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadaland, High Chief Senator Rasheed Ladoja, Oyo Deputy Speaker, Hon Abiodun Fadeyi, Head of Service, Ololade Agboola, Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Oni, Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Segun Olayiwola among other government functionaries.
Iyabo Adebisi
pub-5160901092443552
Related Posts
