Enugu targets 2030 ODF status, pushes multi-sectoral strategy to end open defecation
Enugu State has intensified efforts to eliminate open defecation, stressing that achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach involving government, communities, development partners, and the private
Enugu State has intensified efforts to eliminate open defecation, stressing that achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach involving government, communities, development partners, and the private sector.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, made this known while declaring open a stakeholders’ consultative workshop on the state’s ODF roadmap review, held in Enugu.
The workshop, organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources in partnership with UNICEF, aims to chart a strategy to eradicate open defecation across the state between 2025 and 2030, following the completion of the 2020–2025 phase.
Onyia described the workshop as timely and called for collective ownership of the ODF agenda, noting that open defecation remains a major public health and environmental challenge.
“The issue of open defecation is not merely an environmental concern; it is a public health emergency and a matter of human dignity.
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“Its impact on sanitation, water quality, child health, and overall community well-being cannot be overstated,” he said.
The SSG noted that the practice undermines the administration’s zero tolerance for activities that threaten public health and environmental sustainability.
He urged stakeholders to contribute innovative ideas and technical expertise to accelerate the state’s transition to ODF status.
He further disclosed that the government is exploring private sector participation in establishing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities across emerging urban centres in the state.
“We must recognise that achieving an open defecation-free state requires a multi-sectoral approach—government, communities, development partners, and the private sector,” Onyia added, reaffirming the state’s commitment to providing policy direction and an enabling environment.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Ben Collins Ndu Jr., reiterated the administration’s resolve to end open defecation, urging participants drawn from the 17 local government areas to make meaningful contributions.
Also speaking, Emily Rand, the Chief of WASH at UNICEF, said the agency’s partnership with Enugu is driven by its commitment to improving children’s well-being. She noted that the 2025–2030 roadmap is expected to deliver greater impact than the previous phase, particularly through enhanced capacity building for WASH stakeholders.
On behalf of the project consultants, Mangrove and Partners, Mr Timeyin Uwejamomere called for a review of existing sanitation laws to ensure the provision of toilets in households, public institutions, and commercial centres.
The consultants also recommended the construction of modern public toilets with handwashing facilities in major urban centres such as Enugu metropolis, Nsukka, 9th Mile, Obollo-Afor, and Agbani, in collaboration with private investors.
They further advocated prioritising sanitation services for vulnerable and underserved households, alongside creating a State Sanitation Pool Fund and financing schemes to support sanitation investments.
In her presentation, the Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, Chioma Okpara, emphasised the need for a unified national approach to achieving ODF status, ensuring access to clean water and proper sanitation for all.
Globally, access to water and sanitation was recognised as a fundamental human right by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010.
However, Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in the sector. According to UNICEF, about 60 million Nigerians lack access to basic water supply, while over 112 million do not have adequate sanitation, with roughly 47 million still practising open defecation—posing serious risks to public health, nutrition, and education.
