The Cross River State government is looking to achieve Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status across its 18 local government areas of by 2023.
The Director-General of Rural, Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), Mr Ita Ikpeme, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
Ikpeme, who was reacting to the recent celebration of Ikom and Yala local government areas as ODF, said the state is currently number one in ODF in Nigeria.
“Yes, last week, we celebrated two local government areas as ODF, making it five local government areas.
“Before then, we already had Obanliku, Bekwara and Yakurr. Very soon we are going to Boki.
“Our target is that by 2023, all the 18 local government areas in the state will be ODF, ‘’ he said.
The director-general said that a task force known as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM), had been instituted in all the affected communities in collaboration with the local government councils to ensure the sustenance of the ODF.
“They have their own bye-laws; and anyone who is caught defecating in the open will be arrested by the enforcement team and punished appropriately, ‘’ Ikpeme said.
He commended the development partners including, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), UK aid, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and United Purpose for the progress so far made by the state government.
Meanwhile, with the ranking of Nigeria as second in prevalence of open defecation, the Federal government has expressed concern that the country may lead the chart if drastic interventions are not taken.
Thus, it tasked all states and local governments to prioritize the National Action Plan on WASH and open defecation roadmap.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, made the call in Abuja on Monday during a workshop on the implementation of the National Action Plan for the revitalisation of the WASH sector and launching of the National Strategy for the Implementation of Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM).
“As you are aware, we are beginning to put in place interventions to end open defecation in our country as our country is set to become the leading country with the highest number of people defecating in the open by October this year when India would have exited this position.
“Our actions, going forward must be immediate and deliberate. I hereby urge all of us to give our focused attention, contribution and support to the development of the implementation plan of the National Action Plan over the next two days. I look forward to your recommendations on the proposed National WASH Fund,” he said.
While stressing the need for VLOM of rural water supply facilities, the Minister said this was prepared as part of the sustainability efforts on access to adequately and equitable supply of safe drinking water in rural areas.
He said the strategy will not only enable the country to put ownership of the facilities in the hands of the communities but have an institutional arrangement for their adequate operation and maintenance.
“As sector practitioners and related sector experts we must take a critical look at the five pillars of the National Action Plan, namely: governance, sustainability, sanitation, funding and financing, and monitoring and evaluation; and provide clarity to Nigerians on what will do to implement these pillars during the Emergency phase.
He also expressed the FG’s commitment to vigorously pursue the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 holistically to ensure that no one is left behind.
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs Comfort Ekaro has earlier said participant at the workshop are expected to redefine the period of the emergency and firm up priority actions to be implemented, provide clear guidance and message for the mobilisation of the citizenry and the political and traditional leadership on its implementation.
She urged them to lay a good foundation for the implementation of the action plan beyond the emergency period and explore and recommend innovative funding and financing strategies for the implementation of the action plan.
- NAN