The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, says the House is committed to working with all stakeholders to end open defecation and ensure a healthy living environment for all Nigerians.
Abbas stated this during a Public Hearing by the House of Representatives joint Committees on Environment, Water Resources, Ecologically Fund, Works and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, held in Abuja.
He noted that the House recognises the devastating impact of erosion and other environmental factors on the lives of the citizens.
The Speaker urged all relevant agencies to step up efforts in achieving the goal of ending the menace by 2025
The Minister of Atate for Environment, Iziaq Salako lamented Nigeria’s current state in the agenda of ending open defecation nationwide, noting that the country is lagging behind.
The Minister advocated for the provision of more funding in other to ensure effective implementation of policies to end open defecation in the country.
Mr Salako urged governments at all levels to empower environmental health officials to carry out their regulatory responsibilities.
He noted that Nigeria can scale up its activities by empowering security agencies working in the area of ending open defecation.
Rural water projects
In his remarks, the Chairman of the joint committee, Pondi Gbabojor emphasized on the need for the government and all relevant agencies to intervene and take deliberate actions to mitigate the living conditions of their constituents.
He urged government at all levels and private individuals to embark on aggressive rural water projects that will ensure that each community is provided with portable water and functioning toilet facilities.
He also said that the public hearing was convened, with the hope of creating a platform for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, share insights, and propose actionable recommendations to address these pressing issues.
“It is an opportunity for us to harness collective wisdom, expertise, and resources towards finding lasting solutions that will positively impact the lives of millions of Nigerians.
“We hereby call on the Government and its Agencies at all levels, especially those whose statutory duties border on conservation of our environment; provision of succour to victims of disasters; environmental remediation; and infrastructure providers to intervene and take deliberate action to mitigate the living conditions of our constituents. As representatives of the people, it is our duty to call on the Authorities of the State to address these challenges comprehensively, and ensure the implementation of sustainable solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens”. Mr. Gbabojor said.
The Public Hearing of the Committees on Environment, Water Resources, Ecological Fund, Works and Emergency & Disaster Preparedness also focused on the need to End Open Defecation; Erosion in Alur-uno Community in Enugu State; and Erosion in Aguata Community in Anambra State.
Stakeholders who attended the hearing proffered solutions on how to curb the environmental challenges affecting Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ukoh
