Plateau vows to end open defecation by 2027

On Dec 4, 2024

Plateau State Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) says it is committed to ending open defecation in the state by 2027.

Mr Jonathan Malann, Plateau SURWASH Programme Coordinator, made the vow on Tuesday in Jos during a one-day interactive session with journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Malann said that Plateau was ranked as the second highest in the North Central region in open defecation, with over 56 per cent of its population engaging in open defecation.

According to him, the SURWASH programme, aside from working towards the provision of potable water to all urban and rural communities, was also working vigorously to ensure that by 2025, at least two local government areas would be declared open defecation free.

He restated that the programme was working towards an open defecation-free 2027.

The programme coordinator, said the aim of the interactive session was to improve synergy with critical stakeholders, such as the media and CSOs, to achieve the mandates of improving the availability of potable water supply and hygiene.

Mr. Bashir Datti, Plateau Commissioner for Water Resources, who declared the session open, assured the stakeholders of commitment to achieving the target.

Datti, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Mr. Steven Gyang, said he was optimistic that the interaction would chart a new course in the water and sanitation sector.

NAN/Wumi