In other to eradicate open defecation in Nigeria, the federal government is focusing on inspiring people to take personal action to help improve toilets and sanitation systems in Nigeria; HELEN OJI reports.
In a bid to raise awareness about the billions of people living without access to safely managed sanitation is embarking on a public campaign that encourages behavioural change for positive action. With just seven years away from the target year of achieving SDG 6 on safe toilets and water for all by 2030, Nigeria is off track to meet that target.
Globally, more than 4 billion people are still living without safe toilets while 48 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation. This scenario of leaving so many people behind without safe toilets puts in jeopardy the entire 2030 target date especially 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.
Challenges
According to the Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal Abbas, many people in Nigeria still use the bush and water bodies as their regular means of excreta disposal and many institutions do not have sanitary facilities and where they exist they are either not functioning or are misused.
The Minister added that 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 become a repository for sewage and wastewater.
“One of the major consequences of poor excreta and sewage disposal is the high rate of diarrhea 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 are also manifestations of inadequate toilet facilities.
“We need urgent and massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation service chain. Investment in the sanitation sector is good for public health and the economy and 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 stressed.
Also the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, stated that the federal government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the development of the WASH Sector exemplified by the various initiatives it has championed and supported over the years.
“The declaration of a State of Emergency
Emergency and implementation of the National Action Plan for the Revitalization of the Sector, the implementation of the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme, and the launch of the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign to end open defecation, which is backed by a Presidential Executive Order. In addition, the National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) survey was instituted to monitor progress on the achievement of the SDG 6.1 and 6.2 targets, with planning, intervention profiling and evidence-based advocacy among its pillars. Moreover, the Sustainable Development Urban and Rural WASH programme is also being implemented across 7 States,” he said.
Engr. Prof Utsev noted that these interventions have helped the campaign to end open defecation to progressively gain traction at the national and state levels by accelerating access to sanitation services. For example, through the LGA-wide Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign, a total of 105 LGAs have become ODF while over 40 thousand communities have been certified ODF communities across the country.
Solutions
“The Clean Nigeria Campaign is engendering demand for sanitation services through the social and behavioural change communications approach, we also recognise the need to strengthen the supply side of the value chain and maximize its sanitation economy potential in the country.
“We will continue to engage all Stakeholders and harmonize actions to end open defecation and improve sustainable and climate-resilient access to sanitation services in Nigeria.
“Revision and validation of the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy including its policy guidelines on safe excreta and sewage disposal by my ministry and national stakeholders. I will soon present the revised Policy to the Federal Executive Council for its approval,” he added.
Community-based intervention on the control of open defecation as well as the clean and green programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment which are aimed among others at promoting the provision of safe and adequate toilets across the country, particularly in public places and ensuring proper excreta management in Nigeria.
Stakeholders say Environmental Health Officers and Sanitary inspectors across all levels of government should step-up their routine sanitary inspection of premises in their various jurisdictions and ensure that everyone everywhere in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.
