From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Nigeria would need about 20 million toilets to end open defecation across the country.
The Deputy Director, ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Chizoma Opara, disclosed this on Thursday, in her presentation at a two-day media dialogue with the theme, ‘Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria and And Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), held in Lagos.
The workshop organized by the Oyo Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), drew journalists from the southwest states, officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and stakeholders from the private sector.
Speaking further, Mrs Opara lamented that Nigeria is still battling with the issue of open defecation with its attendant harmful effects on the people.
According to her, only 37 million Nigerians representing 18% of the total population have access to safely managed sanitation services
She emphasized that Nigeria would require 20 million toilets if the country is serious to end open defecation in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Opara, who noted that there is need for a strong synergy between the government and the private sector to end this environmental menace, called for more concerted efforts to combat open defecation.
While pointing out that state governments must intensify their efforts to end open defecation, she commended Jigawa for being the only state to have achieved zero open defecation.
She further urged the state governments to compete with one another in ending defecation in the public, calling on Nigerians to make sanitation and hand washing their habit.
Opara, who lamented that 48 million Nigerians still defecate openly, emphasised that by addressing open defecation, Nigeria could reduce the transmission of NTDs, experience improved sanitation and hygiene practices.
“Today, we gather to shed light on a crucial aspect of Public Health that affects millions of Nigerians: the intricate relationship between Open Defecation and the spread of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
“Open defecation is a practice that persists in many parts of our country, with about 48 million persons engaging in the act in Nigeria (WASHNORM 2021), is a sanitation and hygiene-related issue and a significant contributor to the spread of NTDs. Diseases such as Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, Trachoma, Lymphatic Filariasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis(STH) etc. are transmitted through contaminated soil and faeces, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, malnutrition, and ill health.
“By addressing Open Defecation, we can significantly reduce the transmission of NTDs, improved sanitation and hygiene practices can break the cycle of infection, protecting vulnerable populations, especially children and women”, she submitted.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [WASH], UNICEF Nigeria, Jane Bevan, maintained that no efforts should be spared in ending the practice of defecating openly.
The UNICEF boss said proper hygiene was pivotal to ending open defecation, pointing out that strong political will would be needed to end the bad habit.
‘’We all need political will to tackle open defecation. We need to make it real and make washing our hands a priority. This is what the media needs to do so that we can put an end to open defecation’, she stated.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Oyo State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Babalola Afobaje, lauded UNICEF and Governor Seyi Makinde of the state for their support for the agency and for providing a level playing ground in order to end open defecation among the rural dwellers.
Afobaje said the Agency would make judicial use of the opportunities provided for the WASH Project, stressing the need for an increased funding for the open defecation project.