The Federal Government has lamented that many Nigerians still use the bush and water bodies as their regular means of excreta disposal. The Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this during the commemoration of the 2024 World Toilet Day in Kano. The minister who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Pollution Control, Bahijja Abubakar, lamented that with six years away from the target year of achieving SDG 6 on safe toilets and water for all by 2030, Nigeria needs more deliberate commitment and actions to meet that target.
He, therefore, urged Environmental Health Officers/Sanitary inspectors in the country to scale up routine sanitary inspection of premises in their various jurisdictions.
The minister who warned that the issues of open defecation in Nigeria would no longer be business as usual, urged environmental health officers/sanitary inspectors, to ensure that everyone in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.
“The Ministry of Environment will deploy all its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws in the country,” he said.
The minister described this year’s theme “Toilets: A Place for Peace” as apt, as it offers an opportunity for a public campaign that encourages behavioural change for positive action.
“Globally, 3.5 billion people lack safe sanitation while 47 million people in Nigeria still practice open defecation.
“The scenario of leaving so many people behind without safe toilets puts 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 said.
Lawal urged the media, development partners, NGOs, CSOs, the Organised Private Sector and Community Leaders to promote safe toilets to enhance sanitation and hygiene practices for overall environmental health protection. He also commended UNICEF and other partners for their unwavering support and commitment towards improving sanitation and hygiene, which has made a significant impact through this event. The minister commended the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf for his efforts in eradicating open defecation.
The commissioner for Environment and Climate, Nasiru Garo, commended the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and other partners for supporting Kano in achieving this feat. He restated the state government’s commitment to evolve innovations and implement environmental mitigation measures to safeguard the ecosystem.