By Fatima Saka
The Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq. ensures a robust partnership with Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagements to extend the ‘Clean Nigeria; Use the toilet campaign’ to all the rural communities of the 774 LGAs nationwide in an effort to eradicate open defecation in the country by 2025.
The Minister of State conveyed this commitment during a meeting with Senior Special Assistants to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagements, namely Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai (North-West), Abiodun Essiet (North-Central), Moremi Ojodu (North -West), and Gift John Bull (South-South) who visited his office in Abuja on Tuesday, 30/04/24.
Rt. Hon. Goronyo, recognizing the exemplary service and unwavering dedication of the SSAs to their grassroots constituents, along with their vigor, enthusiasm, acumen, and profound understanding of community-related initiatives, promises a strong partnership between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the group.
This partnership is not limited to the Campaign for Open Defecation Free (ODF) in all communities of the 774 LGAs but extends to Water, Sanitation &Hygiene programs in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”I wish to commend Mr. President for selecting you for this role. I understand it’s a challenging task, but with your exceptional track records, your appointment is well-deserved. I am aware of your capabilities. Many of you who served in the Presidential Campaign Council, I am familiar with your competencies and trust in your ability to deliver,”he remarked.
He informed the group that he and his counterpart, the Honourable Minister, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, have been touring all 36 states in the country to engage with Governors and other stakeholders in the sector to secure their support in eradicating open defecation by 2025 in accordance with executive order 9. This includes evaluating the status of other Ministry programs, such as PEAWASH, SURWASH, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene initiatives in their respective states, and exploring potential areas for collaboration.
Goronyo emphasized the adverse effects of inadequate access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, which result in significant economic losses and the spread of diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid in our communities.
The Honourable Minister of State expressed profound gratitude for the visit and urged the SSAs to persevere in their joint commitment to ensuring the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s Administration, emphasizing that future generations will recognize their efforts in striving for a better and more prosperous Nigeria for all.”We will continue to collaborate with you. Our vision is the success of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a true Leader, a Grassroots Politician, a Mobilizer, and someone who is always prepared to fulfill his mandate.””I have no doubts that you are well-suited for the task and can excel.”
The Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, reiterated how the then Vice President Prof. Osinbajo launched the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign’ in 2019, and since then, the Ministry has been actively engaged in the Campaign. She acknowledged that most states have embraced the campaign but lamented the recent financial constraints hindering the Ministry’s efforts to advance the Campaign as intended. She highlighted that to date, only 122 LGAs out of the 774 have been declared open defecation-free. She appealed for adequate funding of the ODF program to meet the target of making Nigeria open defecation-free by 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the SSAs to the President on Community Engagements, the group leader and SSA North-West Community Engagement, Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai, pledged their unwavering commitment to collaborate with the Ministry on ODF and other Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs.
Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai and his colleagues assured the Ministry of utilizing their expertise, networks, and relationships with other stakeholders nationwide to successfully conclude the Campaign.
