The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says 48 million Nigerians indulge in open defecation.
Mr Monday Johnson, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) specialist, stated this at a two-day media dialogue on open defecation free in Southwest states on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The workshop with the theme: ‘‘Eliminating Open defecation in SW states in Nigeria’’ was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation.
Related posts
- UNICEF distances itself from Falegan, Nkechi Blessing’s ex-lover
- COVID-19 Crisis: Spike In Child Labour Underway, Warn ILO, UNICEF
- Akwa Ibom Girl Wins UNICEF Award
According to him, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH-NORM) 2021 report revealed that no fewer than 48 million Nigerians indulge in open defecation.
Johnson said that Nigeria could not continue the usual practice of open defecation, if it was ready to meet the national deadline of 2025 open defecation free society.
For the country to reach its target of open defecation free society, he stressed the need for increased investments and targeted funding for sanitation and hygiene.
The international agency also said that it would continue to partner with state governments to minimise the menace of open defecation.
Johnson, who noted that Nigeria overtook India in 2019 in open defecation practices, said Nigeria was now on number one position worldwide in open defecation practice globally.
He, therefore, pledged to support the Federal Government and states in ending open defecation in the country.
“The overall vision of UNICEF Nigeria water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme is to support the federal government.
‘‘To ensure that by 2027, move Nigerians, especially those in vulnerable situation realise their right to safely manage drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services through improved access to affordable, sustainable and safely managed sanitation and hygiene services,” he said.
Also, Mr Dotun Oyelade, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said the state was working toward ending open defecation by 2028.
Oyelade said that before the end of 2028, there would be improvement in the menace of open defecation in the state.
He said the state government was always ready to cooperate with UNICEF in all areas affecting the general well-being of the
Oyelade, who noted that the state government was ready to partner UNICEF in ending open defecation in the state and Nigeria at large, said it was sad that Nigeria had overtaken India in open defecation practice.
‘‘It is very sad that Nigeria is now number one open defecation country globally.
