The Federal and State Governments, in collaboration with Development Partners, have reaffirmed their commitment to expedite action towards ending open defecation thereby accelerating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in the Country.
Speaking at the 3rd National Retreat on ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign’ to accelerate and track progress to end open defecation and the Unveiling of the National WASH IEC Materials held today in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, FNICE, emphasized the critical importance of the Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC) which was Launched in 2019 following the Presidential Executive Order 009.
He stated that the Campaign represents a transformative movement to end open defecation in Nigeria and highlighted the government’s unwavering resolve to address sanitation challenges through the promotion of improved hygiene practices and the prioritization of initiatives aimed at bridging the gap in access to WASH services for all Nigerians.
He underscored the pivotal role of access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in ensuring the well-being of the population, stressing the need to accelerate the Clean Nigeria Campaign.
The Minister noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to the Campaign’s objectives evident in the reinauguration of the Campaign’s Steering Committee in July 2024, under the leadership of Vice President, His Excellency , Sen. Kashim Shettima, GCON, and the launch of the Revised Implementation Strategy 2025-2030 among others.
He explained that this strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap for stakeholders, addressing key bottlenecks identified during the Campaign’s implementation and accelerating progress toward the goal. According to him, the revised strategy is anchored on six critical pillars, designed to drive innovation and collaboration across all levels of government, strengthen private sector participation, and enhance the efforts of development partners and other key stakeholders.
Describing the Clean Nigeria Campaign as a clarion call to action, Prof. Utsev urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the shared mission of achieving a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.
He commended the progress made so far, noting that as of January 2025, 142 Local Government Areas across 20 states had been declared open defecation-free and stressed the need for State Governments to accelerate efforts, as they are the key drivers of the Campaign, urging them to demonstrate greater commitment by investing financial and human resources necessary to meet the Campaign’s ambitious targets.
The Honourable Minister also lauded the States that have shown commitment to end open defecation in Nigeria and encouraged lagging states to learn from their counterparts and implement key action points from the retreat for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Nigeria for future generations.
He urged State, local governments and development partners to take collective action to address the issue and emphasized the urgent need for renewed commitment to achieving an open defecation-free Nigeria by 2030.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, represented by the Director Reform Coordination in the Ministry, Mr. Moses Jo-Madugu, emphasized that the coastal waters serve diverse purposes that contribute significantly to livelihoods, food security, poverty alleviation, and economic prosperity, stressing that proper management of these resources could significantly enhance National Development.
In her goodwill message, the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian and Development Partners Mrs. Imna Audu, expressed concern that out of Nigeria’s 36 States; only Jigawa State has achieved ODF status and called for collective action from state and local governments, as well as development partners, to change the narrative.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr. Jane Bevan, as well as representatives of NEWSAN (Network of Water and Sanitation NGOs), YouthWASH, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Honourable Commissioners of Water Resources from the States.
Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the Ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh gave the vote of thanks while the overview of the Clean Nigeria Campaign was presented by the National Coordinator CNC, Mrs. Chizoma Opara,
Key highlights of the event included the unveiling of the WASH IEC materials, and the rebranding of the SURWASH Logo, reinforcing government’s commitment to expanding sustainable WASH interventions across Nigeria.
Signed
Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan
Director Information and PR
