Maiduguri: Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eliminating open defecation practices across the state. Zulum made the pledge during the inauguration of the state’s roadmap to eliminate open defecation in Maiduguri on Tuesday. The campaign, aligned with SDG six to ensure water and sanitation for all by 2030, aims to mobilise communities to end open defecation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the governor, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Usman Kadafur, highlighted the critical role that sanitation plays in health, education, economic growth, and community wellbeing. He acknowledged the state’s challenges, including fiscal constraints, but underscored his administration’s commitment to improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services. The governor stated, “Poor hygiene, open defecation, and lack of access to safe water compromise the dignity and health of our people, contributing to child mortality, undernutrition, and educational barriers for girls.”
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ulum emphasized the importance of clean public toilets in markets, motor parks, and other public places, ensuring Borno meets global sanitation targets. The governor presented a detailed action plan to achieve these goals, including expanding access to safe water within 30 metres of every household using durable, community-managed systems. He directed state officials to collaborate with the private sector to develop affordable toilets and introduce interest-free sanitation credits for households and toilet businesses.
The governor called for public-private partnerships to sustain WASH access in schools, health centres, and public places, urging the Ministry of Information to collaborate with the First Lady’s office and media outlets. This, he said, is to mobilise communities and promote sanitation and hygiene practices. He appealed to all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, community members, and the private sector, to support the campaign and help make Borno an open defecation-free state. “A clean
Borno State means a prosperous people. Together, we can leave a legacy of dignity and health for future generations,” he said.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting the Borno government in eradicating open defecation and improving access to WASH facilities. Represented by Phuong Nguyen, UNICEF’s Chief of Borno Field Office, she revealed the wide-ranging impacts of open defecation on public health, education, and economic productivity, particularly for children. She noted that while providing toilets and water infrastructure is vital, fostering behavioral change is equally important. “It’s not enough to have toilets or water; people must understand their significance,” she said.
Mr Ajose Adeyemi, Deputy Director of Rural Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, congratulated the state for achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in Biu and Shani local governments. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to s
upporting the state’s continued efforts and presented the ODF Certificate, Flag, and Plaque to the Deputy Governor. Earlier, Mr Abu Godwin, a representative of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat, outlined the strategic objectives and key expectations of the secretariat for the state. He highlighted goals such as mobilising support at the political, private sector, and development partner levels, and creating a pool of resource persons to support local actors.
In his remarks, Sule Ali, Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, praised the National Task Group on Sanitation for recognising Biu as open defecation free. Ali noted that this achievement would not have been possible without the support of Gov. Babagana Zulum, who had directed the LGA to undertake a sensitisation campaign showing the devastating effects of open defecation. “By God’s grace, we have succeeded, and today our Local Government is open defecation free,” he said.