Kano has expanded its anti-open defecation drive, adding six LGAs to its sanitation campaign.
With 26 councils now involved, officials stress hygiene education and grassroots cooperation for success.
The Kano State Government has ramped up efforts to eliminate open defecation, announcing plans to add six more local government areas (LGAs) to the list of those designated as Open Defecation Free (ODF).
This development was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by Mustapha Muhammad, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to the statement, 15 LGAs have already achieved ODF status, and with the inclusion of the new councils, a total of 26 LGAs are now part of the sanitation improvement drive. Certificates of attainment will soon be presented to councils that meet the required standards.
The ODF campaign is being executed in collaboration with UNICEF and implemented through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), which operates under the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development.
As part of the public hygiene initiative, the government has rolled out a wide range of awareness and sanitation materials. These include educational leaflets, improved latrine covers, Tippy Tap handwashing devices, and banners aimed at sensitizing communities.
RUWASA Managing Director, Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa, told reporters that the focus of the campaign goes beyond distributing sanitation tools.
“We are not just distributing materials, we are changing behavior,” Isa said. “For Kano to become fully open defecation-free, there has to be a collective commitment from all stakeholders. This is not a job for the government alone.”
He emphasized that grassroots involvement and strong political will are crucial to the campaign’s success, noting that the current administration has shown strong leadership in this regard.
“The support from His Excellency has been unwavering. Without political backing, we wouldn’t have achieved this level of progress,” Isa added.
He also revealed that the state has provided sustainable hygiene solutions, such as SATO toilet pans, to the 15 LGAs that have already been certified ODF. Additionally, public spaces including motor parks, Tsangaya schools, and markets are receiving targeted interventions to improve sanitation facilities.
The six LGAs newly added to the campaign include Sumaila, Tudun Wada, Doguwa, Tofa, Bunkure, and Garun Malam. Isa confirmed that the state government has released counterpart funds to expand the programme to these areas.
“We are hopeful that these LGAs will soon be certified as ODF-compliant,” he said.
The move aligns with Nigeria’s broader national goal of ending open defecation by 2025 and improving public health outcomes through enhanced sanitation infrastructure and behavioral change.
