70% of Nigerian faculties and 88% of well being services lack primary sanitation- UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised issues over Nigeria’s alarming sanitation challenges, revealing that 70% of colleges and 88% of well being services throughout the nation lack entry to primary sanitation providers.
Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, Coordinator and Officer in Charge (OIC) of UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, disclosed these statistics throughout a media dialogue in Enugu held on Tuesday to mark the 2024 World Toilet Day. The occasion, themed “Toilets: A Place for Peace,” highlights the crucial want for improved sanitation infrastructure in Nigeria.
Dr. Akinleye highlighted the extent of the disaster. He defined that 48 million Nigerians, together with 18 million kids, nonetheless follow open defecation.
“Also, 70% of colleges with out entry to primary sanitation providers (~91,000 faculties); 88% of well being services with out entry to primary sanitation (~27,600 well being services),“ he said.
He additionally famous that 80% of markets and motor parks within the nation lack entry to primary sanitation, rising public well being dangers.
Inadequate funding hampers progress
Akinleye attributed the persistence of open defecation and poor sanitation providers to insufficient funding. He revealed that solely 17% of Nigeria’s 774 native authorities areas (LGAs) have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) standing.
- According to him, federal dedication to sanitation efforts declined in 2023, stalling ODF initiatives. He added that solely ₦15 billion was invested in sanitation infrastructure from 2018 to 2022, regardless of an annual funding requirement of ₦168.75 billion.
- Akinleye attributed the persistence of open defecation and poor sanitation providers to insufficient funding, stating that solely 17% of Nigeria’s 774 native authorities areas (LGAs) have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) standing.
- He famous that solely ₦15 billion was invested from 2018 to 2022, in opposition to an annual funding requirement of ₦168.75 billion
“Federal commitment declined since 2023, resulting in stalled ODF initiatives,” he stated.
- Rebecca Gabriel, a WASH Specialist with UNICEF’s Enugu workplace, emphasised the significance of collective motion to deal with the sanitation disaster. She urged governments and personal people to extend investments in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in public locations resembling faculties and markets.
“Toilets should be built in Schools, and other public places to reduce ODF. Everyone must be involved including government and public spirited individuals; so we can achieve zero ODF in every state of Nigeria,” Gabriel said.
What you need to know
In a bid to fight open defecation and enhance sanitation, Lagos State Government has permitted the development of 100 new public toilets across the state as a part of the state’s broader Resilience Strategy, which goals to make sure that each Local Government and Local Council Development Area has accessible public bathrooms and loos.
Vice President Kashim Shettima urged state governors to step up their efforts in making Nigeria open-defecation-free inside the subsequent 5 years. He harassed that each motion in direction of ending open defecation won’t solely enhance public well being but additionally improve productiveness, dignity, and security for Nigerians.
