With 48 million Nigerians still defecating in the open, the federal government has urged greater national efforts to put an end to the habit.Prominent Water Resources and Sanitation Minister Prof. Joseph Utsev and Environment Minister Mallam Balarabe Abbas made the announcement on Thursday at a joint news briefing in Abuja to mark the 2023 World Toilet Day.
Regretfully, they observed that around 100 million Nigerians do not have access to basic sanitation, and that an estimated 48 million engage in open defecation, placing the nation among those with the highest rates of this behavior.
The practice of open defecation, which is primarily caused by a lack of sanitation facilities, is directly linked to diseases related to poor sanitation, as well as to low educational outcomes and decreased production in the nation, according to the minister of water and sanitation.
Prof. Utsev stated that in order to address the water and sanitation crisis, the government has launched a number of initiatives under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs and projects. These initiatives are intended to accelerate the achievement of national targets in the framework of our global commitment to this sector.
The President's proclamation of a state of emergency in the sector and the introduction of the national action plan for the sector's rehabilitation were among the measures mentioned by the Minister.
In addition, he mentioned the "Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet" campaign, the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program, and the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) program.
Prof. Utsev noted that, in addition to the many other negative effects, like the accompanying lack of dignity, inconvenience, and violence experienced by women and girls when practicing open defecation, access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is a critical factor for the socio-economic development of the nation.
"The sanitation crisis poses a threat to our natural environment and the health of citizens, particularly women, girls, and other vulnerable groups," said the environment minister.
Mallam Abbas went on to say that the high incidence of diarrheal illness, which is the second leading cause of morbidity and death rates among children under five, is one of the main effects of inadequate excreta and sewage disposal.
Inadequate restroom facilities are another factor contributing to the recurrent annual cholera outbreaks in some of our states. However, this might also be avoided if everyone disposed of their excreta properly.
The environment minister stated that the Ministry has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding on technology transfer, technical assistance, capacity building, and research development in areas of water, sanitation, and environmental management with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the environmental health officers in the nation.