The Federal Government revealed that despite the impending deadline to end open defecation, approximately 48 million Nigerians still practice it, constituting 23% of the population. Additionally, over 159 million lack access to hand washing facilities, posing a significant public health concern.
To address this, Minister of State for Environment, Ishaq Salako emphasized the urgent need for constructing one million public toilets across the country’s six geopolitical zones. However, only slightly over 5,000 public toilets have been built thus far, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
The Ministry has crafted the National Environmental Sanitation Policy along with sewage and excreta management guidelines to direct professional conduct towards the appropriate disposal of excreta and the control of open defecation nationwide.
Salako also informed lawmakers about the establishment of sanitation desks in the Ministries of Environment across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. These desks are tasked with monitoring and ensuring proper environmental sanitation at the community and household levels by conducting routine sanitary inspections of premises and raising public awareness about the hazards of open defecation.
He advocated for the observance of National Environmental Sanitation Day annually on June 28th to raise awareness about the importance of personal and environmental hygiene among Nigerians.
He highlighted the pressing need for improved sanitation facilities, citing that while 43,000 toilets are required nationwide, over 48 million people are still practicing open defecation. Only 5,004 toilets have been constructed in public places so far, falling short of the target.
“Despite the President’s approval of N63.6bn for a six-year program to end open defecation, the allocated funds have not been fully disbursed. This underscores the urgent need for increased funding to address this critical issue.
In addressing the challenge, he emphasized the importance of mobilizing sanitary health inspectors and empowering the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to effectively enforce environmental laws. NESREA plays a crucial role as the “police of the environment,” and empowering it is essential for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
“We firmly believe that by implementing measures to ensure compliance with federal laws and policies regarding defecation, we can encourage adherence among state, local governments, and the average Nigerian population,” Salako stated.
In line with this goal, the Ministry of Environment has slated a project for 2024 aimed at addressing this issue through a digital platform designed for reporting environmental incidents.
Yakubu Baba, Chief Sanitary Inspector at the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, emphasized the need for a National Environmental Sanitation Development Agency. Such an agency would serve to coordinate sanitation efforts at the national level, a crucial step in tackling the challenge of open defecation.
“At present, there is no centralized agency overseeing sanitation efforts in the country. Therefore, I urge the legislature to consider establishing a National Environmental Sanitation Development Agency to effectively coordinate national sanitation initiatives,” added Baba.
“In his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, highlighted the fragmented nature of sanitation efforts in Nigeria, with various components scattered across different ministries. He emphasized the need for a cohesive national framework to streamline efforts and ensure harmony between federal and state initiatives.
Representing Abbas, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda underscored the urgent need to tackle the growing incidence of open defecation, which poses significant health risks to millions of Nigerians. Chinda stressed the importance of ensuring that every Nigerian has access to basic amenities essential for good health and wellbeing.
Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Pondi Gbabojor, echoed the call for decisive action, urging governments at all levels to prioritize the eradication of open defecation. He emphasized the necessity of implementing rural water projects to provide communities with clean water and functional toilet facilities.
Furthermore, there were appeals for increased sensitization efforts by relevant agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, to raise awareness about the dangers of open defecation. The executive arm was urged to mobilize state governments to align with the National Action Plan for revitalizing Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector.
Lastly, there was a plea for collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, state counterparts, and sanitation agencies to meet the criteria for accessing the available World Bank funding aimed at improving water and sanitation infrastructure nationwide.”
