By Ahmed Ahmed
The Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC), a non-governmental organisation, has pledged to secure loans from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to support toilet business owners in order to end open defecation in the Northeast Nigeria.
The group made this known in a resolution signed by Mrs Ngozi Okpara, in Bauchi, on Friday.at the end of a two-day Northeast review meeting.
Participants said thereview meeting is aimed at mobilising high level political support and resources towards building a new culture of safe defecation.
They said the CNC will identify and engage microfinance institutions with the view to facilitating the efficient disbursement of loans to prospective toilet business owners.
It noted that the initiative would entail fostering entrepreneurship and empowering local communities towards eradicating open defecation and promoting proper sanitation practices in the northeast zone and the country at large.
The group also pledged to immediately initiate the process of constituting steering committees for states and local government areas across the zone.
This, it explained, was to ensure efficient representation and collaboration to drive impactful water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives.
The CNC also expressed its commitment to strengthen collaboration and forge strategic partnerships with sister agencies, private sector development partners, the media and other key stakeholders.
Participants also planned to implement a robust and structured approach by instituting a monthly Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) coordination meeting, ensuring consistent and effective collaboration among all stakeholders.
This, they said, will foster a synchronised effort towards eradicating open defecation and advancing access to WASH initiatives in the states.
Participants also resolved to actively identify and involve traditional and religious leaders, as well as influential citizens as champions of the campaign across the entire zone.
Our correspondent reports that stakeholders include the General Manager Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) from Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe states attended the review meeting.