President Buhari Signs Executive Order Seeking To End Open Defecation In Nigeria By 2025

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed Executive Order 009, seeking to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

The Executive Order 009 entitled ‘The Open Defecation-Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other Related Matters Order 2019’, was signed on Wednesday in Abuja.

The signing of the order is to ensure Nigeria becomes open defecation free by 2025.

The details of the executive order was made public by Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“That by this Order, Nigeria is committed to being open defecation-free by 2025,” the statement reads.

“That the National Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Roadmap developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with support from other key sector players across Nigeria be put into effect.

“There is established in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources a National Secretariat called ‘Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat.’

“The Secretariat is authorised on behalf of the President to implement this Order by ensuring that all public places, including schools, hotels, fuel stations, places of worship, market places, hospitals and offices have accessible toilets and latrines within their premises.

“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government shall cooperate with the Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat.

“The National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly shall enact legislation on the practice of open defecation, with appropriate sanctions and penalties.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Minister for Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu said Nigeria is set to become the world’s leader in open defecation with over 48 million people practicing it.

The minister said Nigeria was unable to attain the Millennium Development Goals targets for water supply and sanitation because of poor investments, low capacity and other challenges