Stakeholders advocate accelerated actions for zero open defecation by 2025

By Stanley Onyekwere

Participants at the Second National Retreat for states on the clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign” have stressed the need to fast-track actions that would accelerate progress towards the attainment of Open Defecation Free (ODF) Nigeria by 2025.

They also stressed the need to re-think the effectiveness of current approaches and strategies for delivering National Sanitation targets; and for Nigeria to move beyond containment to safely managed sanitation, as well as harness different opportunities for fund raising and resource mobilisation.

This position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Retreat, which held from 13th -14h February, 2023, in Abuja, with the theme: Sustaining the Gains of Improved sanitation towards an ODF Nigeria”. One hundred and twenty seven (127) participants drawn from State RUWASSA’s (32 States and FCT), Development Partners, WaterAid, NEWSAN, UNICEF, OPS-WASH, Youth WASH Africa, Lixil-SATO and ALGON. Others include representatives from Federal Ministries of Education and Environment, Civil Society Organisations and members of the press.

The communique was signed by representatives of North East

Zone, South West Zone, South East zone, North West Zone, SouthSouth Zone, North Central zone, and Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation Federal Ministry of Water Resources, respectively.

According to the Communique, since the inception of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, some of the challenges identified that may deter the success are as follows: low political-wiIl at sub-national level; Low prioritisation; poor capacity; inadequate funding poor private sector support; poor partnership and collaboration.

The Communique read: “After two days of deliberations at Plenary and Technical Sessions, the following key resolutions arrived at and their implementation strategies: ODF drive through Clean Nigeria Campaign should move beyond containment to safely managed sanitation with consideration for urban areas; and States should intensify efforts and rethink their implementation strategies by adopting context specific approaches towards achieving ODF Status. States should review or develop

WASH related policies in line with the SDGS 6 Target, expanded and multifaceted partnerships at sub-national level are required to contribute to fast tracking progress and sustaining result towards meeting the SDGs-6 in Nigeria.

“States should explore and harness funding for sanitation via organised private sector, Philanthropists, indigenes in Diaspora, and States should harness opportunities available in sanitation economy within their jurisdiction through engagement with relevant stakeholders lIke private sector and financial institutions.

“ CNCS/States should leverage on religious/traditional institutions and other notable personalities in driving the campaign to end open defecation.

“States should harness the innovation and the potentials available within the youth in contributing to WASH service delivery.

“OPS-WASH committed to adopt 100 LGAs to attain ODF status across the country between 2023 and 2024.”

L-R,: Director of Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Rev.Fr. Mike Nsikak Umoh, Bishop Emeritus Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Dr. Felix Alaba Job, Managing Director, Lelook Bag Academy, Chief Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu, during the closing ceremony of the first 2023 CBCN plenary Conference with the theme ‘Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance’ , held recently in Abuja.

2023 Census: Minister tasks Journalists on accurate reportage

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged media Professionals to support the National Population Commission, NPC, to achieve reliable, accurate and acceptable, 2023 Population and Housing Census in the Territory.

The Minister stated this at a one day capacity building workshop organized for Journalists on the conduct and effective reporting of the 2023 Population and Housing Census by National Population Commission in Abuja Nigeria’s capital with the theme: “ Getting the people involved”. Represented by the Director, Information and Communication of the FCTA, Mr. Mohammed Sule Hazat explained that the Administration is working closely with traditional institutions and local authorities in the Territory to fully sensitise the residents especially those in rural communities on the importance of availing themselves and their households for the enumerators to be counted during the exercise.

While urging the participants to pay attention and make judicious use of their time, the Minister explained that the workshop will build in the participants, capacity and the skills to enable them effectively and efficiently reports events, activities geared towards a successful national census.

According to him, “ Without an accurate data of the population and housing demographic in a country, the nation will not be able fully develop because you would have nothing to rely on when planning for the socio-economic and educational development of the country”.

Bello, who noted that, the 2023 National Population and Housing Census is critical for the advancement of Nigeria, stressed that it is, therefore, very important that adequately attention be paid for its conduct in order to ensure its success.

Earlier, the Federal Commissioner in charge of FCT, National Population Commission, Mr. Joseph Shazin Kwali stated that with the approval of the President for the conduct of the next Population and Housing Census in 2023, preparations are in top gear for the successful implementation of the census project Census.

He opined that it is a national event and is the responsibility of every citizen to participate by presenting themselves to be counted.

Shazin further explained that the Commission will no doubt, need the support of all stakeholders to deliver to the country a credible and reliable data it can use for sustainable development planning.

He said, “ Over the years, the Commission has invested considerable time and resources planning for the census by drawing from its rich institutional experience spanning two censuses and a pool of tested professionals to give the nation a truly digital and scientific census that will generate data for national planning within the context of our present realities.

“I am pleased to inform you all that the outcome of the preparatory activities of the 2023 Population and Housing census has been reassuring. The Commission has successfully demarcated 774 LGAs in all the States of the federation and the FCT”.

The Federal Commissioner disclosed that, the Commission has also conducted the first and the second census pre-test exercises to test the census instruments in preparation for the census added that the trial census has been conducted in June 2022.

He added that the Commission is on course in its mission of delivering an accurate census to Nigerians and a strategic partnership with the media will form the tripod upon which the census architecture will stand to reach-out to the Nigerian people.

Shazin pointed out that the overarching goal of the workshop is to share with the participants the vision of the Commission and seek their support to ensure broadbased nationa’ cooperation for the implementation of the activities of the National Population Commission, especially the coming census 2023

He reassured the participants that the Commission will continue to engage them on all activities of the Commission especially, towards the successful conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

He reiterated that, getting the 2023 Population and Housing Census right is a task that must be done and the Commission is committed to ensuring that everything about the census is done rightly and professionally.