Abuja: Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has pledged the Church’s support for the Federal Government’s Clean Nigeria, ‘Use the Toilet’ campaign to end open defecation. He made the commitment when he received the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and senior ministry officials in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kaigama commended the government’s engagement with religious leaders, stressing the importance of governance involving direct interaction with the people. He highlighted the church’s role in raising awareness and educating communities, particularly in rural areas, about the dangers of open defecation and the need for improved sanitation. Kaigama pointed out that open defecation contributes to waterborne diseases, environmental degradation, and public health risks.
Citing Pope Francis’ Laudato Si on environmental care, Kaigama emphasized the church’s commitment to promoting hygiene and sanitation. He assured that he would personally advocate for the campaign and encourage priests to incorporate sanitation messages in their teachings. Recalling the church’s role in promoting health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, he expressed readiness to collaborate with the government in ensuring clean and safe environments.
Earlier, Minister Utsev explained that the Clean Nigeria campaign, launched in 2019, aims to eliminate open defecation by 2030. He noted progress, with 142 local governments now declared open defecation-free, up from 102 before the current administration. Utsev urged the church to reinforce the message in its teachings and provide sanitation facilities as models for communities.
Utsev emphasized the Federal Government’s willingness to provide technical assistance to support the initiative. He stated, “Our appeal is that we cannot achieve this without the support and collaboration of the Church. That is why we are calling on the Church to support us in this effort, as it will benefit all Nigerians.” Highlighting the power of the Church’s message and its wide-reaching influence, he noted that the Church is a key partner in promoting Nigeria’s goal of becoming an open defecation-free nation.
Utsev further suggested that through Church conferences, the message can be shared, and priests attending these gatherings can help spread awareness in both urban and rural communities. Additionally, he expressed a desire for ministry personnel to participate in these conferences, where they can address bishops, priests, and seminarians to further promote the campaign.
The minister concluded by joining Catholics in praying for Pope Francis’ recovery and expressed hope for stronger church-government collaboration on public health and development.