FCT targets open defecation free status by 2027

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across the six Area Councils of the FCT by 2027. Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ seminar on the dangers of open defecation and strategies for eradication—organized by the JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN) in Abuja—the Deputy Director […]

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across the six Area Councils of the FCT by 2027.

Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ seminar on the dangers of open defecation and strategies for eradication—organized by the JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN) in Abuja—the Deputy Director and Head of the Sanitation Department at FCT RUWASSA made this known while addressing the gathering.

She defined open defecation as the disposal of human waste in open spaces such as fields, bushes, roadsides, and water channels.

She explained that such practices expose communities to serious health and environmental risks by allowing disease vectors, such as flies and animals, to spread pathogens and contaminate food and water sources.

She identified several drivers of the practice, including poor sanitation awareness, misconceptions linked to poverty, cultural practices, inadequate facilities, and an overdependence on government provisions.

She stressed that sanitation should be viewed as a primary household responsibility, urging communities to prioritize toilet construction just as they do housing and food.

The Acting Director of FCT RUWASSA, Mrs. Abigail P. Ekpenisi, emphasized the urgency of addressing sanitation challenges in both urban and peri-urban communities of the nation’s capital.

She noted that access to safe sanitation remains critical to public health, human dignity, and sustainable development.

Earlier, the President of the JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Agberankhe, said the workshop reflects JAAN’s commitment to applying technical knowledge acquired in Japan to address critical development challenges in Nigeria.