Zamfara Govt Moves To End Open Defecation
The Zamfara State Government has pledged full support for the ongoing Sanitation Voucher Programme, aligning itself with national efforts to eradicate open defecation and improve hygiene practices across the country.
Speaking at a sanitation conference held in Sokoto, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr. Ahmad Garba, described open defecation as a major public health threat that fuels the spread of diseases such as cholera, especially in rural communities.
The two-day conference, which took place at Dankani Guest Inn between Wednesday and Thursday, focused on disseminating and scaling up the Sanitation Voucher Initiative in Northwest Nigeria.
Highlighting the importance of hygiene from both religious and public health perspectives, Engr. Garba stated that Islam and Christianity both emphasize cleanliness and condemn practices that pollute the environment.
“Open defecation contaminates our environment and contributes significantly to disease outbreaks,” he said.
“Both Islam and Christianity teach us to uphold hygiene. If we can rid our communities of this practice, we will save lives and reduce the financial burden on our healthcare system.”
The Commissioner described the sanitation voucher scheme—which provides financial support to low-income households to construct toilets—as timely and impactful.
“Not every household can afford to build a toilet. That’s why the sanitation voucher programme is highly commendable and deserves government backing,” he said.
“Zamfara State is ready to give it all the support it needs to succeed. Our vision is to make the state open defecation-free.”
Addressing concerns about how insecurity might affect implementation, Engr. Garba pointed to Katsina State as a model, where 33 out of 34 local government areas have already been declared open defecation-free despite facing similar security challenges.
“We are learning from Katsina. Their success proves that progress is possible even in difficult circumstances. In Zamfara, we are determined to create awareness and mobilize support across all communities,” he added.
The Commissioner called for the active involvement of traditional institutions, religious leaders, and community influencers in driving behavioral change.
“We are returning home with a renewed sense of purpose. We will engage district heads, imams, pastors, and local influencers to drive this campaign,” he said.
“Open defecation is not just unhealthy—it is socially unacceptable. With political will and divine support, we will overcome it.”
The sanitation voucher initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on clean water and sanitation by 2030. Several states in the Northwest are already making significant strides in this direction.
Zamfara Govt Moves To End Open Defecation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
