The Minister of state for environment Izhaq Adekunle Saleko on Thursday said that 48 million Nigerians which represents 23 percent of total population still practice open defecation despite 2025 deadline to end open defecation while 159 million Nigerians are without washing hand facilities.
He stated this to address the
menace which has barely a year to go. The Federal government needs to construct
1 Million public toilets in public facilities across the country, adding that
so far only five thousand toilets have been provided.
Saleko stated this while he
appeared before the House of Representatives committee on Environment during an
interactive session in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria is
lagging behind in putting an end to open defecation, while stating that the
Federal government in terms of funding cannot provide toilet for every
Nigerian.
The Minister further explained
that the Ministry has taken various steps to address the issue of open
defecation in the country.
He said that the ministry has
developed the National Environmental Sanitation Policy and its guidelines on
sewage and Excreta management to guide the professional conduct on proper
excreta disposal and control of open defecation in the country.
He further explained that the
ministry has established sanitation desks in the 36 States’ Ministries of
Environment and FCT to monitor and ensure proper environmental sanitation at
the community and household levels by conducting routine sanitary inspections
of premises, and sensitizing the public on dangers of open defecation and the
importance of having access to toilet in residential and public places.
Also he called for the
commemoration of National Environmental Sanitation Day on 28th June every year
to create a massive awareness on the importance of environmental sanitation and
good hygiene practices, thereby institutionalizing sound sanitation and hygiene
practices among the citizenry.
” The commemoration activities
include community cleaning exercises, facilities inspection, organization of
quiz competitions among secondary school students to broaden their knowledge on
environmental sanitation and hygiene practices and sensitization/awareness
creation in selected communities to prevent and control open defecation as well
as environmental sanitation-associated preventable diseases such as malaria,
cholera, Lassa fever, e.t.c
“Commemoration of world toilet
Day on 19th November every year for awareness creation and sensitization of the
general public on dangers of open defecation and need to have access and use
toilet. The 36 States of the Federation also join in commemorating the day in
their respective states.
“Commemoration of Global
Handwashing Day on 15th October every year for sensitization and awareness
creation on the importance of Sanitation and proper Hand Hygiene.
“Conduct regular
sensitization/advocacy and sanitary inspection of toilets in Federal Government
owned institutions and Unity Schools Nationwide. The Ministry also liaises with
the state Ministries of Environment and Environmental Health department at LGAs
to ensure effective routine sanitary inspection of premises in which the
presence and status of the sanitary facilities is a major component of the
exercise
“The Ministry initiated a
programs titled ‘Clean and Green’ in which One of its aims among others is to
eliminate open defecation in Nigeria by 2025 and ensure sustainable total
sanitation and implementation of green technology initiatives in Nigeria.
“The Ministry is implementing
Community Based Intervention on the control of open defecation program
nationwide, which has the components of Sensitization/Awareness Campaign and
construction/provision of public toilets with Solar Powered Boreholes. This program
has been implemented in FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, and Abia states. The Ministry
intends to scale up the project to other states of the Federation.
” Flagged off National
Environment Sanitation Intervention/Response to Cholera Outbreak prevention and
control in Abuja, FCT with series of planned activities targeting control of
open defecation nationwide which has been implemented in Kogi, Nasarawa and
Kano State.
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