The Federal Government has reached out to religious and community leaders for their support in advancing the Clean Nigeria Campaign, aimed at promoting toilet use and ending open defecation across the nation.
During an advocacy visit to the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, emphasized the importance of collective action in this initiative. He noted that while progress has been made—with 142 Local Government Areas achieving open defecation-free status—there is still much work to be done to meet the target of a completely open defecation-free Nigeria by 2030.
Professor Utsev highlighted the role of religious leaders as essential stakeholders in educating Nigerians about the health risks associated with open defecation and in scaling up the campaign’s efforts.
In response, Archbishop Kaigama expressed gratitude, noting that Professor Utsev is the first serving minister to visit the Diocese with a focus on promoting healthy living. He acknowledged the significance of the visit in fostering a connection between the government and the community and thanked the Minister for his commitment to saving lives and enhancing personal hygiene.
The Minister’s advocacy efforts will be extended to various religious groups throughout the country.
