Minister solicits association’s support to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has solicited the support of American Society of Civil Engineers, Nigerian Chapter, to achieve “Open Defecation Free” country by 2025.

Adamu made the appeal when the President of the society and his team paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister said there was need to take a cue from the Indian government and end open defecation in the country by 2025.

On the need for repositioning the Ministries, Department and Agencies, the minister clamoured for professionals to head professional and technical ministry to be able to develop the country to its optimal capacity.

“What we have been doing in the last four years is to restore professionalism to the highest level, this is because when I came on board, I was disappointed with the professionalism especially in the area of technicality of the ministry.

“But going forward, things have changed positively in the ministry and I hope professionals will speak when things are not going on the way it should.

”I also advise political leaders on the best approach to things. I believe that going forward, successive administrations will begin to put professionals and technical people in the professional ministry,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Ajose Otinwa, President of the society, congratulated the minister on his reappointment, saying it was well deserved.

He commended the minister on the recently signed Executive Order 009 on open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025.

Otinwa said the order would help improve the healthy living standards of Nigerians by eliminating water and environmental pollution.

He, however, sought the collaboration of the minister in the area of water management improvement with ASCE members who had been operating in water resources sector and possessed capacities for effective collaboration.

Otinwa added other areas of partnership to include capacity building of the ministry’s key staff in conjunction with its members at the headquarters while also carrying out a membership drive in the ministry among other collaborations.

“Our members in Nigeria are registered engineering professionals, ASCE Nigeria international section supports development of younger members and students through various development and mentorship programmes,” Otinwa said.

It was reported that ASCE is a global body made up of 152,000 members cut across 200 countries in all continents and with the largest online library.