By Busuyi Ogidiolu
The Federal government has reaffirmed its commitment towards aggressive fight against open defecation, most especially at the grassroots.
The minister of water resources, mallam Suleiman Adamu made this known in Ado Ekiti during a day sensitization on Open Defecation Free organized for community mobilisation officers of the National Orientation Agency.
Mallam Adamu who was represented by an official of the Federal ministry of water resources, Mrs chiyenre obialor noted that different technical know how had been put in place to make water available for the people in the country.
According to mallam Adamu the effort is geared towards reducing the risk of consuming water that had been contaminated with faeces in open places.
The minister whose messages centered on ” Clean Nigeria Campaign ” said hazards created by open defecations often times made government to spend more on health intervention rather than developmental projects that could have direct impact on the lives of the citizens.
He expressed regret that Nigeria was rated second among the countries of the world practising open defecation, a situation that called for concerted efforts to be nipped in the bud.
An official of Ekiti state primary health care development Agency, Mrs Adekemi Ajayi who spoke on ” Good Sanitation and Government involvement in open defecation” maintained that the ugly trend remained a menace leading to various killer diseases like cholera, diarrhea among others.
In the same vein, the General Manager, Ekiti State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mr Ayo Alegbeleye added that the state government would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to drill boreholes and ensure hygienic water supply to the people.
He said government had been able to stop open defecation in one hundred and fifty four communities through its intervention on construction of public toilets and provision of water.
In his submission, the state Director, National Orientation Agency, Mr Dayo Famosaya called on participants at the sensitization to spread the messages of the training to the grassroots, saying that non adherence to construction of toilets in every house would always attract government’s sanctions.
