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By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A total of 3.5 billion people are lacking behind in safely managed sanitation globally, while 47 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation, the Minister of Environment Hon. Balarabe Lawal has said.
The Minister however assured that the Federal Government of Nigeria is commitment to addressing the sanitation challenges including ending open defecation in the country and ensuring proper management of excreta.
Globally, 3.5 billion people lack safely manage sanitation while 47 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation
He made the disclosures in a speech at the 2024 World Toilet Day (WTD) Commemoration, held at the coronation hall, government House, Kano, in kano state.
“Globally, 3.5 billion people lack safely manage sanitation while 47 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation”, he stated.
The Minister, Mal. Lawal, who was represented by Director Pollution Control and Environmental Health Engr. Bahijjahtu Abubakar at the occasion on Tuesday, stated that the FG commitment is demonstrated by “Declaration of State of Emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Country by Mr. President and the signing of Executive Order no 009 on Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025”, among other measures.
The Minister noted that scenario of leaving so many people behind without safe toilets put in jeopardy, the entire 2030 Agenda, with the poorest people, particularly women and girls, paying the highest price in terms of poor health, missed education, loss of productivity and general insecurity.
They are either not functioning or misused
He said many people in Nigeria still using the bush and water bodies as their regular means of excreta disposal, adding that many institutions do not have sanitary facilities, and where they exist, “they are either not functioning or misused.
“Most urban areas do not have sewerage systems and safe collection of sewage, which makes disposal a huge challenge as many of the water bodies including rivers and streams, as well as farm lands become a repository for sewage and wastewater.
Due to prevalent use of soak away in urban and peri urban areas, there is a significant increase in leachate contamination of underground water sources
“Furthermore, due to prevalent use of soak away in urban and peri urban areas, there is a significant increase in leachate contamination of underground water sources such as boreholes thereby causing avoidable diseases”, he said.
According yo him, one of the major consequences of poor excreta and sewage disposal is the high rate of diarrheal disease which is the second cause of high morbidity and mortality rates among children under the age of five.
“The persistent re-occurrence of annual incidences of cholera outbreaks in some of our states including Kano state, are also manifestations of inadequate toilet facilities”, he stated.
Hon. Lawal stressed the need for urgent massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation service chain, adding that Investment in the sanitation sector is good for public health and the economy.
Every one Naira invested in toilets and sanitation, up to five Naira is returned in saved medical costs
“For instance, every one Naira invested in toilets and sanitation, up to five Naira is returned in saved medical costs, better health, increased productivity, education and jobs.
He however, assured that the Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to addressing the sanitation challenges including ending open defecation in the country and ensuring proper management of excreta. End
The 2024 WTD theme “Toilets: A Place for Peace”, is quite apt, as it offered an opportunity for a public campaign that encouraged behaviour change for positive action, he louded.
We are just six years away from the target year of achieving SDG 6 on safe toilets and water for all by 2030
“We are just six years away from the target year of achieving SDG 6 on safe toilets and water for all by 2030 and as of today, we still need more deliberate commitment and actions to meet that target in Nigeria”, Mal. Lawal reassured.
