The Minister of Water Assets and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, has applauded Ado and Ohimini Native Authorities Areas of Benue State for reaching Open-Defecation Free standing.
Utsev, who was represented by the Director of Water High quality Management and Sanitation on the Federal Ministry of Water Assets and Sanitation, Elizabeth Ugoh, made this announcement throughout a commemoration ceremony in Otukpo, Benue State, on Tuesday.
Final Thursday, the minister disclosed that the Nationwide Activity Group on Sanitation declared eight extra LGAs ODF.
Utsev famous that this achievement marks a crucial step ahead in Nigeria’s efforts to realize the nationwide ODF goal by 2025.
In a press release signed by the ministry’s Director of Info and Public Relations, Funmi Imuetinyan, on Tuesday, the minister stated, “This represents greater than only a title; it’s about making a more healthy and extra affluent future for our folks.
He underscored that open defecation stays a major problem in lots of components of the world, with far-reaching penalties.
He additionally famous that it compromises well being and undermines schooling—significantly for younger ladies, amongst others.
He said that eliminating open defecation is a vital step towards higher sanitation, leading to fewer ailments, larger productiveness, and higher dignity for our folks.
The assertion added that the minister emphasised that the significance of sanitation can’t be overstated, noting that entry to scrub and protected bathrooms, together with good hygiene practices, drastically reduces the danger of waterborne ailments akin to cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid.
This enchancment, in line with him, considerably enhances the well-being of girls and kids, who are sometimes essentially the most susceptible when sanitation entry is proscribed.
Commending the collaborative efforts of the Benue state authorities, UNICEF, and numerous group organisations, the minister recognised the contributions of conventional and group leaders in reaching this standing.
He inspired continued efforts to maintain these positive factors and work in direction of state-wide ODF standing.
The spotlight of the occasion was the presentation of the ODF certificates to the 2 LGAs. With this achievement, the full variety of ODF LGAs in Nigeria has risen to 136.
