Nigeria Gov't Unveils Plan to End Open Defecation by 2030

Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, announced on Friday that the Federal Government will launch the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan next Tuesday, with the goal of advancing efforts to eliminate open defecation nationwide by 2030.

During a press briefing in Abuja, prior to the strategic plan’s unveiling and the observance of the 2024 World Toilet Day, which has the theme “Toilets: A Place for Peace,” Utsev pointed out that only 135 Local Government Areas in Nigeria have achieved Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status.

He further explained that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has initiated several programs aimed at addressing deficiencies in basic sanitation services and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) related to water and sanitation in Nigeria.

These initiatives include the creation of a National Action Plan to revitalize the sector, partnerships for expanded Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs, as well as Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation and Hygiene initiatives, along with the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” Campaign, which is backed by the Presidential Executive Order 009 targeting ODF by 2025.

The minister stated, “The Strategic Plan for the Clean Nigeria Campaign is a detailed and actionable framework that charts our course to a clean Nigeria, where by 2030, everyone will have reasonable access to a toilet. The significance of this campaign cannot be overstated, as each advancement toward ending open defecation will improve health, increase productivity, and enhance the dignity and safety of our citizens.

“Achieving these goals will require proactive advocacy and the engagement of relevant stakeholders to garner strong political support at all levels, particularly at the sub-national level.”

He remarked that the theme for the 2024 World Toilet Day emphasizes the role of toilets as places of peace, protection, and progress—crucial for both public and environmental health.

World Toilet Day is celebrated each year on November 19 to encourage actions addressing the global sanitation crisis and support the achievement of SDG 6, which aims for universal sanitation access by 2030.

The activities planned for this year’s celebration include the launch of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan by Vice President Kashim Shettima on November 19, 2024, at the State House in Abuja, as well as an event commemorated by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Kano State Government on the same day.