ABUJA (Min of Water Resources Report) – With dedication towards implementing the National Action Plan for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and to end open defecation in Nigeria on or before 2025, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu recently received in audience, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai.
In his welcome remarks, the Minister invited the Governor to a partnership with the Federal Government to implement a National and State campaign and transformational sanitation promotion agenda, to End Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025.
Also, the Water Minister restated the endorsement by the Federal Executive Council to carry out a “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign” and equally, the implementation plan for a behavioural change campaign, across Nigeria.
Engr. Adamu further implored the Governor, to join the Federal Government’s drive, by declaring a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene with a clear message of state-specific plans and development of road-map, using the national road-map as well as improving the process of building public toilet facilities across strategic locations of Kaduna State.
The Minister disclosed that he is in the process of starting an advocacy visit to all the States of the federation to discuss the implementation of the National Action Plan, to allay his fears, that Nigeria would become number one in the world as the country with the highest number of people practicing open defecation.
In his speech, Governor Nasir El Rufai congratulated the Minister on his reappointment by President Muhammad Buhari, he avowed that Kaduna State was ready to work with the Water Ministry to improve access to clean water and sanitation, for the people of Kaduna State.
Mallam Nasir El Rufai acknowledged with deep appreciation, the Ministry’s support for the Zaria Water Project and said that Kaduna State had domesticated the WASH policy through legislation that created the Water Corporation.
He noted that the State is desirous of support for the Greater Kaduna Water Scheme, and would need the collaboration of the Water Ministry to achieve this. He promised to join other States to adopt the ‘Clean Nigeria, Use the toilet’ campaign.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Comfort Ekaro, while giving her vote of thanks identified with the good works of the Governor, and expressed her trust that Kaduna State under the watch of the Governor would key into “Clean Nigeria Campaign” for a prompt end to open defecation.
kenechukwu Offie (Mrs)
Director (Information)
