President Buhari Signs
President Buhari Signs Executive Order 009 on Open
Defecation-Free Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday signed Executive Order 009
entitled, The Open Defecation-Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other
Related Matters Order.
The Order declares as follows:
1. That by this Order, Nigeria is committed to being open
defecation free by 2025.
2. That the National Open Defecation Free (ODF) Roadmap
developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with support
from other key sector players across Nigeria be put into
effect.
3. a. There is established in the Federal Ministry of Water
Resources a National Secretariat called “Clean Nigeria Campaign
Secretariat”.
b. The Secretariat is authorized on behalf of the President to
implement this Order by ensuring that all public places including
schools, hotels, fuel stations, places of worship, market places,
hospitals and offices have accessible toilets and latrines within
their premises.
4. All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government
shall cooperate with the Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat.
5. The National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly shall
enact legislation on the practice of open defecation with
appropriate sanctions and penalties.
6. All development projects shall include construction of
sanitation facilities as an integral part of the approval and
implementation process.
7. The Secretariat shall terminate when Nigeria is declared Open
Defecation Free.
8. All enforcement authorities are hereby directed to diligently
collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in
implementing this Order.
The Executive Order 009 came into being against the background
that:
Nigeria is ranked second amongst the nations in the world with
the highest number of people practicing open defecation estimated
at over 46 million people – a practice which has had a negative
effect on the populace, and has contributed to the country’s
failure to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs);
President Buhari had described the statistics on open defecation
and access to pipe borne water service and sanitation as
disturbing, and had declared commitment to implement the National
Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan;
The President had declared a State of Emergency on Nigeria’s
water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector, the action being
imperative as it will reduce the high prevalence of water borne
diseases in different parts of the country which have caused
preventable deaths;
Nigeria has committed to end open defecation throughout the
country by 2025 in consonance with her commitment to the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
This Executive Order takes effect from Wednesday, November 20,
2019.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)