The Jigawa government says it has spent N500 million on enhancing restroom facilities in schools, hospitals, markets, and bus terminals throughout the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Hannungiwa, who said this on Wednesday in Dutse,
disclosed that the government has expended substantial resources to improve restroom facilities in schools, hospitals, markets, and transportation hubs across the state. He also emphasized that the government has implemented proactive measures to ensure it maintains its status as an ‘Open Defecation Free’ state.
Hannungiwa expressed the state’s commitment to surpass the national Open Defecation Free (ODF) target by 2025. He attributed this achievement to diligent efforts and the implementation of effective policies and programs in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Commissioner further mentioned that a committee has been established to develop strategies for sustaining the state’s ODF status and eliminating this issue.
“Under this committee, more standard public conveniences would be provided at public places and along highways in the state.”
“The state government has done a lot in the area of public enlightenment on the importance of using toilets, especially in rural communities.”
“Jigawa State is the first and the only state so far declared Open Defecation Free in the country by the UNICEF,” he remarked, mentioning that the UN Agency has designated the state governor, Umar Namadi, as an ODF Ambassador.
The governor is slated to present a paper on Nigeria’s progress in combating open defecation during an upcoming conference scheduled to take place in Canada.