Stakeholders Urge Private Sectors’ Involvement To End Open Defecation

Some stakeholders in Rivers State have called for the active involvement of the private sector to end open defecation (ODF) in Nigeria, by the year 2025.
This was part of resolutions at the 17th Roundtable Programme on Open Defecation Free Nigeria Organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Rivers State in Port Harcourt.
The forum also urged for behavioural change among Nigerians, while relevant government agencies should ensure the massive creation of awareness across the country.
Declaring the event open, state Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Rivers State, Barrister Young Ayotamuno described open defecation as an altitudinal crisis adding that it was in view of this that the agency is partnering with relevant organisations on behavioural change.
“As you are aware, our President, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari on 20th November 2019, signed the executive order 009 on Open Defecation free Nigeria.
“This order gives an insight into the intent and policy direction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is aimed at a complete reversal of the unenviable position of Nigeria as number one in the global open defecation practice ranking as well as engender policies, legislative enactments, processes and actions that world engender altitudinal transformation and behavioural change towards the total elimination of this ugly habit’’.
He said the private sector could develop what he called ‘’sanitation marketing through the construction of toilets facilities in public places for commercial purposes.

By: John Bibor