Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the Federal Government's plan to tackle the ongoing cholera epidemic in Nigeria. As part of this effort, Shettima inaugurated the Steering Committee for the "Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet" Campaign, with the goal of eliminating open defecation in the country by 2025.
As reported by PUNCH, The Vice President emphasized the need to address the root causes of the cholera outbreak, which has affected several states since the beginning of 2024. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been over 3,000 suspected cholera cases, with 65 confirmed and 30 deaths across 30 states during the first half of the year.
Shettima stressed the importance of mobilizing strategic stakeholders, leveraging technology, and deploying innovative and sustainable solutions to boost Nigeria's overall sanitation landscape. He tasked the committee with crafting solutions to tackle issues such as wastewater management, contaminated water sources, and open defecation practices across the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, highlighted that the Federal Executive Council had recently commissioned a cabinet committee to address the cholera epidemic, with open defecation being identified as a key contributing factor.
Presenting the report on the "Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign," the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, revealed that approximately 47 million Nigerians, or 23% of the population, engage in open defecation. The campaign aims to construct 25,000 rural and 50,000 urban toilets, with an estimated investment of N959 billion. So far, N10.4 billion has been approved annually for the implementation of this initiative.
Shettima emphasized the need to harness the resources and expertise of both the public and private sectors, as well as to leverage innovative research and technology, in order to achieve the goal of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.. He expressed confidence in the committee's ability to deliver on this crucial mandate, which he believes will have a significant impact on the health, dignity, and overall development of the Nigerian people.
Nigeria to Host African Energy Bank
In a separate development, Nigeria has been granted the hosting rights for the African Energy Bank after beating Ghana, Benin Republic, Algeria, South Africa, and Cote d'Ivoire in a keenly contested bidding process.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, announced the news in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the award highlights Nigeria's robust energy sector and the country's strategic vision for Africa's energy future.
Lokpobiri expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support extended during the course of the bidding. He also thanked the Council of Ministers of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation for their confidence in Nigeria's capability.
The minister emphasized the collaborative spirit of the APPO members and their shared vision for a united, energy-secured Africa. He stated that the decision reflects the collective ambition to create African solutions to Africa's energy challenges.
Lokpobiri said the African Energy Bank will be instrumental in providing the necessary financial backbone for energy projects that will drive growth and development across the continent. He assured Nigerians and Africans that the establishment of the bank will mark a transformative era in meeting the continent's energy needs.
The minister emphasized that the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the African Union's Agenda 2063, aiming for a prosperous and self-sustaining Africa.