The federal government has commenced implementation of measures to combat cholera epidemic by tackling the root causes, including open defecation. Vice President Kashim Shettima said Thursday that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was determined to end open defecation by 2025. The Vice President said this when he inaugurated the Steering Committee for the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said ending open defecation can be achieved by mobilising strategic stakeholders and leveraging technology as well as deploying innovative and sustainable solutions to boost the nation’s sanitation landscape. Shettima, who underscored the significance of hygiene, health and its impact on development and wealth, urged the committee to “align with broader government priorities and interventions in areas such as poverty reduction, education, and economic growth.” He said the recently reported cases of cholera in the country should serve as 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.
He also expressed 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 behavioral change and culti.
