The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on residents to join efforts to eradicate open defecation in the territory.
Mrs. Kate Ogbonna,, Acting Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), emphasized the need for residents to take responsibility for proper sanitation, noting that about 47 million Nigerians still practice open defecation.
Ogbonna highlighted the health risks associated with open defecation, including the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and diphtheria.
She urged residents to include toilet facilities in their building plans and encouraged those living in suburbs and villages without sewer lines to promote proper sanitation practices.
The AEPB plans to engage with communities and public places to raise awareness about the risks of open defecation and promote proper sanitation practices.
The FCT Administration is committed to addressing sanitation challenges in the territory, in line with the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on water, sanitation, and hygiene.