By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The District Head of Miri, a large Community in Bauchi LGA, Mallam Hussaini Abubakar Othman, has attributed the success of the local government becoming ODF to the continuous sensitization of citizens on the dangers of open defecation.
The Traditional Ruler was speaking to a team of Journalists in his palace in Miri, who were assessing the impact of the ODF status in the local government on Friday.
According to him, “Traditional rulers are one of the most powerful influencers in the community, they influence the decision of their subjects to a large extent based on trust and respect.”
The Traditional Ruler stressed that, “At the community level, we hold meetings with heads of households where we educate them to prevail on their households against open defecation.This really worked, because we saw the changes.”
Husseini Abubakar assured that, “On Sustainability, we will continue with the sensitization of the people as we have always done and work with all the relevant stakeholders and partners in this whole process to ensure that the success is maintained.”
The District Head further said that it required a concerted effort to convince many of his subjects to desist from open defecation relying on superstitious beliefs associated with open defecation.
According to the monarch, many rural dwellers held on to belief in open defecation and did not easily see reasons to use dug toilets not to talk about improved toilets.
He said that with community enlightenments, persuasions and constant reminder on the danger associated with open defecation, the rural communities now preferred to use improved toilets.
He then commended Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF for the impactful engagements and trainings of the trad institution on healthy living which has created awareness of well-being.
Bauchi LGA, the Capital of Bauchi State and its surrounding communities is the most populated area and the 9th of the 20 Councils to be certified and declared open defecation free after several years. Dass Local Government is among the earliest few Councils to be declared ODF in Nigeria.
