Twelve Local Government Areas in Nigeria declared open defecation free

The Nigerian government has declared an additional 12 new Local Government Areas as Open defecation free.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this during the monthly meeting of the National Task Group on Sanitation, a multi-sectoral platform involving Line Ministries, Agencies, NGO Networks, and the Media, held in Abuja.

The additional open defecation free Local government areas are Kunchi, Gezawa, Ajingi, Karaye, Rimin Gado, Rano & Albasu in Kano State; Kankara and Funtua in Katsina State; and Kolokuma/Opokuma in Bayelsa state.

Others are Oshimili North, Delta State; and Ikenne in Ogun state.

This brings the total number of open defecation free local government areas in Nigeria to a total of hundred and seventeen.

Professor Utsev listed the other open defecation free local government areas as follows; Jigawa State, the first Open Defecation Free State (27 LGAs); Anambra (3); Akwa-Ibom (1); Bauchi (7); Benue (9); Borno (2); Cross River (6); Kano (11 + 7 = 18); Kaduna (7); Katsina (25 + 2 = 27); Osun (1); Yobe (1); Zamfara (3); and Imo (1) LGAs respectively.