Another Executive Order into Law signed by President Buhari.

President Buhari on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 signed Executive Order 009 entitled, ‘The Open Defecation-Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other Related Matters Order’ into law.

The signing by President Buhari  declares the Order as follows:

“That by this Order, Nigeria is committed to being open defecation free by 2025.

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.

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.

All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government shall cooperate with the Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat.

The National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly shall enact legislation on the practice of open defecation with appropriate sanctions and penalties.

All development projects shall include construction of sanitation facilities as an integral part of the approval and implementation process.

The Secretariat shall terminate when Nigeria is declared Open Defecation Free.

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 ranks second among the nations of the world, and the largest number of people practicing open defecation is estimated at over 46 million people – this practice had a negative impact on the population and contributed to the country’s failure to meet the United Nations. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);

President Buhari described statistics on open defecation and access to water and sanitation from pipes as disturbing and stated that he was involved in the implementation of the National Action Plan for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

The president declared a state of emergency in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure sector in Nigeria and is necessary because it will reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases in various parts of the country that have caused preventable death.

Nigeria has committed to ending open defecation throughout the country by 2025, in line with its commitment to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This implementing Regulation shall enter into force on Wednesday 20 November 2019.