By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Federal Government has identified the Organized Private Sector (OPS) as critical in tackling the menace of open defecation.
Minister Of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal Abbas stated this in his keynote address to commemorate the 2023 World Toilet Day with the theme: “Accelerating Change” which focuses on inspiring people to take personal action to help improve toilets and sanitation system.
The minister urged the OPS to prioritize the establishment of functional toilet facilities across the country for general public use as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
He once more emphasized that more than 4 billion people are still living without safe toilets globally, while 48 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation.
He said that this scenario of leaving so many people behind without safe toilets put in jeopardy the entire 2030 Agenda, 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.
He solicited the support of Nigeria’s Development Partners, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Organized Private Sector, Commercial Entities, Community Leaders and indeed everyone to promote good sanitation and hygiene practices for overall environmental health protection.
“Finally, let me remind all stakeholders here that the countdown to 2030 has begun and we must accelerate progress to ensure everyone has access to toilets by 2030, hence, I call on the organized private sector and commercial entities to support the government by contributing their quota to the establishment of functional toilet facilities across the country for general public use” he said.
The Minister warned that 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. For instance, 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 added.
Also speaking during the event, Prof. Joseph Terlumum Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources, linked open defecation to the ugly cases of rape of women and girls.
Prof Utsev emphasized the need for stakeholders to address national defecation challenges, stressing that investment opportunities exist in the establishment of hygiene facilities in public places such as markets across the country.
“$6.1bln opportunity exist extra hygiene in market places in Nigeria,” he said.
