Stakeholders in Plateau State have renewed efforts to tackle the persistent challenge of open defecation, with Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) setting a bold target to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by November 2025.
The move comes as none of Plateau’s 17 LGAs has yet attained ODF status, and with over 56 percent of the state’s population still practicing open defecation, Plateau ranks second nationally in prevalence.
At the forefront of the push is the distribution of more than 800 Sato pans to vulnerable households in Riyom. The low-cost sanitation devices, designed to improve pit toilets, ensure full containment of waste and help reduce the spread of disease. The initiative is supported by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office in partnership with the Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA), Riyom LGA Council, and local donors.
UNICEF WASH Officer, Nanbam Dawap, speaking during the distribution at Riyom Council Secretariat, emphasized the health and economic benefits of ending open defecation. “This creates jobs for young people, improves public health, and strengthens education outcomes. Healthy children attend school regularly, parents spend less on medical bills, and resources can be channelled into more productive uses,” Dawap said.
To boost Plateau’s capacity, UNICEF earlier this year facilitated an exchange visit for state officials to Bauchi, where they studied fecal sludge management models that recycle waste into manure or charcoal.
PRUWASSA’s General Manager, Godfrey Dashuhar, disclosed that while the LGA requires 2,000 Sato pans, the current distribution will significantly accelerate progress. Contributions came from PRUWASSA (500), Riyom LGA (300), PLAMWASSA (16), Engineer Badung Manchai (20), and other donors, totalling 841 units.
Chairman of Riyom LGA, Sati Shuwa, represented by his deputy, Gwong Song, reaffirmed the council’s commitment. “We are determined to make Riyom the first LGA in Plateau to achieve ODF status,” he said.
Acting Director of Riyom’s WASH Department, Musa Choji, revealed that the LGA has already achieved more than 50 percent coverage. “Our goal is that by November, we will officially achieve ODF status,” he declared.
Beneficiaries expressed relief at the intervention. Chundung Mwasho, one of the recipients, said she had long been embarrassed by the lack of a toilet in her household, adding that the provision of the Sato pan solved a problem she could not afford to fix.
For Plateau State, ranked among Nigeria’s worst-hit by open defecation, Riyom’s progress signals hope. With sustained political will, grassroots mobilization, and strong partnerships, stakeholders believe the state can replicate Riyom’s model across all LGAs.
