[News] Celebration galore as logo local government area of Benue state attain open defecation free status

Celebration galore in Ugba, the headquarters of Logo Local Government area of Benue State as the Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu (FNSE) presented a certificate, flag and plaque to the Local Government for achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.

Thousands of people from six hundred and sixty seven communities of the Local Government were at the celebration.
The status was achieved after series of verification visits by officials of the Local Government WASH unit, State Task Group on sanitation and final confirmation of award by the National Task Group on Sanitation.

The award marks Logo Local Government as the first to achieve this feat in Benue and the North Central geopolitical zone and only the thirteenth in Nigeria.
The Minister of Water Resources Engineer Suleiman Adamu represented by an Assistant director in the ministry, Engineer Emmanuel Eze described the status attained as a landmark achievement in the pursuit of total sanitation in the rural areas.
He however stressed that, while significant progress has been made in the provision of safer water in the last decade, Nigeria was serious lagging behind in sanitation with the country having the highest number of people practicing open Defecation in Africa and the second in the world.

The minister maintained that, the operationalization of the national road man to eliminate Open Defecation by 2025 has been slow as only thirteen Local Governments in the country have so far attained the ODF status between 2016- 2019.
While congratulating Logo Local Government, the Benue State government, traditional leaders and development partners, the honorable minister said, it can no longer be business as usual in tackling the challenge hence the declaration of a state of emergency in the water, sanitation and hygein sector, charged all stakeholders to buckle up to end open Defecation in the country.
Wife of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Mrs Eunice Ortom represented by the National Coordinator of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Mrs Elizabeth Jeiyol expressed confidence in the sustainability of the status attained through consistent and effective monitoring by Government agencies and her partners.

Programme Manager of United Purpose, The facilitating Agency who douples as the programme manager of RUSHPIN, Mr Nanpet Chuktu commended the hard work and zeal of the communities particularly the traditional rulers who he said were at the front burner of mobilizing the people to achieve the status after a passionate village to village drive by all stakeholders.
Receiving the certificate, flag and plaque on behalf of the people, The Commissioner for water resources and environment, Engineer Dondo Ahile, The General Manager of BERWASSA, Mrs Torkwase Ikyaator and representative of Logo Local Government Chairman, Mr Samuel Tingir expressed joy that their efforts have paid off and commended the federal ministry of water resources, the Benue State government for supporting the project especially with counterpart funds and development partners for putting all hands on deck on birthing the dream to reality.
Testifying, A Traditional Rulers, Natural Leader and Woman leader all testified to the massive to the massive drop in cases of diarrhea and presence of flies in their communities while also pledging to sustain the status while also unanimously appreciating all stakeholders for transforming their lives and communities.