The Nigerian Government on Monday called for more innovative ideas and partnerships that would accelerate progress in scaling up sanitation and hygiene in the country.
This was the focus at the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) meeting, a coalition of stakeholders working in the water and sanitation sector in Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said the role of innovation cannot be overlooked, following recommendations from all experts as a necessity to changing poor narratives in the sector.
While commending NTGS members for their tenacity in validating former open defecation communities to become open defecation – free, Adamu however urged them to be steadfast and credible in their efforts.
According to him, efforts are on to introduce the School, Health and Youth Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme through their parent ministries to scale up sanitation in Nigeria.
Adamu said findings from the WASH Normal Routine mapping showed low progress on defecation-free local government areas, adding that with collective efforts, the negative indices would be reversed, for the overall good of Nigeria.
There is a need for the introduction of subsidies for most vulnerable persons in communities to improve their wellbeing.
The National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat, Mrs Chizoma Opara, said efforts are on to train information officers on its activities to promote awareness for the populace.
Opara said Nasarawa State has shown major progress in its implementation of the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Plus programme, with 11 local government areas currently being supported.
UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr Jane Bevan, said there is a need for the introduction of subsidies for most vulnerable persons in communities to improve their wellbeing.
According to Bevan, this could be introduced during the triggering stages of CLTS processes in the communities.
“We are thinking about introducing subsidies to encourage vulnerable people to build their toilets, we are working to do this through the introduction of loans in Bauchi and Oyo states,” she said.
Highlight of the meeting was the introduction of new consultants to work on the development of a National Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy and a Strategy for Scaling up Sanitation Market in some states.
Poor sanitation is reported to be costing Nigeria the equivalent of $3 billion annually, or 1.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP), in productivity losses, deaths and healthcare expenses.
For Nigeria to be on track to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), new and innovative solutions must be provided and a whole sanitation economy developed. (NAN)
