Vice President Kashim Shettima mentioned on Thursday that the Federal Government has taken steps to address the current cholera outbreak by dealing with the fundamental causes, one of which is the practice of open defecation.
He reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu-led government to eradicate open defecation by 2025.
During the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Vice President emphasized that the government could eliminate open defecation by mobilizing key stakeholders, utilizing technology, and implementing creative and sustainable solutions to enhance the country’s sanitation efforts.
Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, shared details of the event in a statement titled, ‘Clean Nigeria Initiative: FG addresses cholera at its source, intensifies efforts to eradicate open defecation.’
Shettima’s statements come in the wake of the recent cholera outbreak affecting 33 states, including Lagos. Between January and June 2024, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recorded over 3,000 suspected cases, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 115 local government areas in 32 states.
The states most impacted by the outbreak are Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos.
Highlighting the importance of proper hygiene, health, and their role in development and prosperity, Shettima urged the committee to prioritize efforts to combat the spread of cholera and end open defecation practices.“align with broader government priorities and interventions in areas such as poverty reduction, education, and economic growth.”
He highlighted the recently reported cases of cholera in Nigeria should be sufficient motivation for the committee to work harder, just as he directed members of the committee to “craft solutions to handle wastewater management, contaminated water sources, and open defecation” across the country.
Shettima also explained confidence that members of the team “will commit to research-driven approaches in our bids to deliver on our promise to make the nation clean.
“We are well aware that achieving this objective begins with our collective resolve to embrace behavioural change and cultivate a lifestyle that prioritizes proper sanitation practices, hygiene education, and community engagement,” he said.
He emphasized that the goals and aspirations of the country could be best achieved by harnessing the resources available in the public and private sectors, especially by carrying out innovative research.
“The public sector cannot succeed in this campaign unless we engage and encourage private sector participation and invite innovative and sustainable solutions.
“We must partner by utilising technology for real-time monitoring, data collection, and impact assessment while recognizing the role of youth and women in driving change,” the VP stressed.
Aside from its core mandate, the Vice President tasked the committee to be vigilant in its assignment, especially “as we develop solutions to the devastations of climate change, urbanisation, and population growth,” stating that “we have become ambassadors of a cause that seeks to restore the health and dignity of our people.”
The fifth meeting of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, launched in 2019, convened to assess the progress made so far in the country.
Minister Professor Muhammad Pate noted that, amidst a cholera outbreak affecting 33 states with 2,000 cases and 33 fatalities, the Federal Executive Council has established a cabinet committee to address the crisis.
He said, “That cabinet committee comprises Water, Education, Environment, Aviation, and almost all the relevant ministries. Open defecation is part of the drivers of this Cholera outbreak that we are seeing.
“But we also have a good example of a sub-national unit doing very well in Jigawa State, which has been declared open defecation-free.
“That is a good example showing that sub-national units can help us address this issue. So, we really appreciate your leadership and commit ourselves to supporting this effort so that we can end open defecation in Nigeria.”
