As part of efforts to achieve its target of ending open defecation by 2025, the federal government has called on states and local governments to take over the fight against open defecation and sanitation.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, made the call on Monday during the workshop on the implementation of the National Action Plan for the revitalization of the WASH sector and launching of the National Strategy for the Implementation of Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM).
Adamu said both states and local governments should key into the initiative as a matter of urgency adding that the national VLOM of rural water supply facilities has been prepared as part of the sustainability efforts on access to adequately and equitable supply of safe drinking water in rural areas.
He said the strategy will not only enable the country to put ownership of the facilities in the hands of the communities but have institutional arrangement for their adequate operation and maintenance.
“As sector practitioners and related sector experts we must take a critical look at the five pillars of the National Action Plan, namely: governance, sustainability, sanitation, funding and financing, and monitoring and evaluation; and provide clarity to Nigerians on what will do to implement these pillars during the Emergency phase.
