50 million Nigerians defecate in the open, 119 million lack proper toilet facilities

The Communication Specialist of the United Nations Children Fund, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku yesterday stated that about 119 million Nigerians were not using safe toilets.  He said ''Some 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have adequate toilets and among then one billion defecates in the open.  Here in Nigeria, about 119 million people are not using safe toilets while 50 million out of this defecate in the open.''

 

Nigeria is said to be among the top five countries in the world with high population practising open defecation and this number have increased since 1990.  Lack of safe, clean toilet and practise of open defecation seriously impact people's health, wellbeing and dignity as well as efforts towards poverty reduction as well as economic and social development.

 

According to UNICEF, among the ailments that can come up due primarily to poor sanitation and hygiene is Cholera, which has been on the increase. 

 

Njoku said calls are being made by the United Nations to countries who practise open defecation to invest in sanitation and develop proper strategies to end this menace.

 

He said up to 150,000 Nigerian children die annually from diarrhoea which is largely caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practises.

The Nigerian government on their part, have promised to work toward ending open defecation by year 2025.   It is assumed that with 75% if Nigerian population owing  mobile phones, it will be easy to mobilize the people to adhere to simple toilet practise and end open defecation.