The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has said 39.4 per cent of the FCT population practise open defecation.
Describing this as alarming, she said the administration would do all within its reach to end the practice among residents before 2025.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by her Special Assistant on Media, Austine Elemue .
She was quoted to have said this during the official declaration of a State of Emergency in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the nation’s capital.
Aliyu also stated that as part of efforts in the battle against open defecation, the administration has established the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
The statement was titled, ‘FCTA pushes to end open defecation, decries 39.4% rate.’
It partly read, “39.4 per cent of the FCT population practises open defecation, this is alarming and unacceptable. To achieve the goal of ending open defecation by 2025, all hands must be on deck in both the formal and informal sectors. The children, the youth, women and the elderly, all have important roles to play.
“Community-based organisations, religious and traditional leaders, organised private sector entities, development partners, as well as all government agencies are also expected to work in synergy to fight this menace.
“Additionally, our traditional institutions across the territory are expected to galvanise their subjects in this fight. Community and household members are enjoined to cooperate with relevant stakeholders, and rise up to own this war against open defecation in their respective communities.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said that the country was making steady progress in meeting the objective of ending open defecation by 2025 and improving sustainable access to sanitation and hygiene.
He, therefore, charged the institutions at the area councils and communities to drive the campaign through the provision of adequate resources, thereby creating the critical mass of champions across the territory.
