By Patrick Idowu
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its commitment to achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across the six Area Councils of the FCT by 2027.
The pledge was made at a one-day stakeholders’ seminar on the dangers of open defecation and strategies for its eradication, organised by the JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN) in Abuja. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director and Head of the Sanitation Department at FCT RUWASSA described open defecation as the disposal of human waste in open spaces such as fields, bushes, roadsides, and water channels.
She warned that the practice poses serious health and environmental risks, as disease vectors contaminate food and water sources. She identified key drivers as poor sanitation awareness, cultural practices, inadequate facilities, and overdependence on government, stressing that sanitation is a primary household responsibility.
Also speaking, the Acting Director of FCT RUWASSA, Mrs. Abigail P. Ekpenisi, highlighted the urgency of improving sanitation in urban and peri-urban communities, noting its importance to public health and human dignity. Earlier, JAAN President, Mr. Ahmed Agberankhe, said the workshop underscores the association’s commitment to applying knowledge gained in Japan to Nigeria’s development challenges.
