By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River has been commended globally as Nigeria’s first council to attain the global set Open Defecation Free Status.
The council was lauded for their uniting efforts to step out of poverty and disease.
These accolades is as a result of the council setting the pace by laying a solid foundation that ensured without exception, all households and institutions in the locality which put to an end the use of open defecation, cleaned the environment and constructed basic or modified toilets.
The minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Ahmed, who led Global citizens, including delegates from both the federal and state levels to celebrate the people, described Obanliku as Nigeria’s pride with a landmark achievement for the entire country.
According to him, “celebrating Obanliku was a worthwhile appreciation that is expected to motivate other councils in the country to work towards achieving similar records”.
Ahmed used the occasion to commend efforts of the Benue government for providing the counterpart funding that has encouraged development partners in the state.
He therefore called on the Cross River government to consider placing as priority, the provision of safe water supply, clean environment, hygiene and sanitation on its political goodwill roadmap.
He lamented that lack of access to basic sanitation facilities has been a longstanding challenge that had continued to threaten the lives of the people in the impoverished communities of Nigeria, particularly, women and girls, and as such, he said, “all hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend”.
He reiterated the fact that Obanliku has demonstrated in simple terms, the surest way to reverse the negative impacts occasioned by lack of safe potable water and good sanitation facilities and further called on the people to continue to live by example and never relent efforts in ensuring that they remained open defecation free.
Welcoming the guests, governor, Senator Ben Ayade, commended the good work of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, (WSSCC) United Purpose and the Federal, State and local government task groups on sanitation for leading Obanliku towards through the path to success.
He, therefore, promised to further open opportunities for the people of Obanliku and other local government areas who may work hard to achieve the same feat, to enjoy the benefits of living in open defecation free environments.
The governor who declared Obanliku as a Model City that would soon be upgraded to enjoy the basic needed socio-economic activities and improved health and educational status.
Also appreciating the people, Executive Director, WSSCC, Chris William, congratulated them for the good step they have taken and urged them to continue to maintain the status, stating that the whole word is watching Obanliku local government area.
