Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
The quest to attain the much anticipated Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in Abuja received a boost when officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Directorate otherwise called (FCT-RUWASSA) commemorated 2025 World Toilet Day with residents and other stakeholders in Katampe community within Mpape area, in Bwari Area Council of the Territory.
To mark the Day this year with the theme: ‘Sanitation In A Changing World’, FCT-RUWASSA visited leaders and other members of the community with swift awareness on the use and provision toilets, as an integral aspect of sanitation systems to accelerate ODF in the FCT.
Speaking during the visit, Ag. Director, FCT-RUWASSA , Abigail Patricia Ekpenisi, called on the community to always use the toilet and avoid defecating in the open as it is the major cause of diseases in the society.
While noting that the federal government has set the year 2030 as a deadline to end open defecation, she said the objective will be achieved swiftly with sustained provision and use of toilets in the society.
She reiterated that the government in collaboration with other critical stakeholders will continue to provide all enablements to use the toilet, so as to mitigate open defecation menace.
“We are here to commemorate World Toilet Day, which s a global event ,and I thank you for accepting to host us, so that at least to speak on the use of the toilet. As the theme says, we need toilets. And I was happy as you were passing, you showed me toilets, which means you people are compliant. You people should keep it up as we commemorate this Day.
“So, I will commend especially the youth, the women leaders, and urge that you people should continue to do the good work you are already doing- by using the toilet to end open defecation. And we are here today to remind you people to use the toilet.
“We will still come back to do more sensitization on the building of toilets. Let’s continue using the toilet as we commemorate the World Toilet Day. The message is use the toilet, keep our FCT clean. And if you keep using the toilet, the objective will be achieved”, the Director stressed .
Similarly, Coordinator of WASH, Bwari Area Council, Madam Alheri Danjuma, who represented the HOD Environmental Department, urged the community members to use the opportunity to educate others on the dangers of open defecation.
On his part, the District head of Katampe 1, Adamu Diga, who appreciated the visit, called on the government to help build a toilet at their children’s primary schools.
He also urged the Council to help them get trucks that will evacuate waste at a subsidised rate, because the prevailing cost is high, and not everybody can afford it.
The highlight of the event was a visit to the primary school in the community
According to UN Water, World Toilet Day was made an official United Nations Observance in 2013, now celebrated on 19 November every year, is about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and reach the 3.4 billion people still living without safely managed sanitation.
