Open Defecation: Nigerian Government to Enforce Sanitation Laws

The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria says it will deploy all its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws across the 36 states in the country.

Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal said this at the Ministerial press briefing for the commemoration of 2023 World Toilet Day, held in Abuja the nation’s capital.

The Minister said the issues of open defecation in Nigeria will no longer be business as usual.

“I therefore call on all Environmental Health Officers/Sanitary inspectors across all levels of government to step up their routine sanitary inspection of premises in their various jurisdictions and ensure that everyone everywhere in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.”

Safe Toilets
The Minister explained that citizens must accelerate progress to ensure everyone has access to adequate, hygienic, and safe toilets by 2030.

“This year’s World Toilet Day commemoration, therefore, presents an opportunity to bring to our consciousness that with just seven years left, the world has to work, on average, five times faster to meet the sanitation target of SDG 6 on time. This, therefore, should stimulate and spur the government and the citizenry to action to improve and change the narratives.” He stated.

He noted that sanitation is a human right, and access to these services is critical to people’s health, business, and integrity of the environment.

According to him, about 4.2 billion people in the world live without safe toilets and about 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, as many people still use the bush and water bodies as their regular means for excreta disposal.

He further stressed that the the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and other stakeholders, has earmarked a series of activities to mark the 2023 World Toilet Day.

The Minister also noted that the Nigerian government  is committed to addressing the sanitation challenges in the country and ensuring proper management of excreta.

“This commitment is demonstrated by Mr. President’s declaration of a state of emergency on water, sanitation, and hygiene in the country and the signing of Executive Order No. 009 on Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025. “ He stated

He, however, solicit the support of the Development Partners, NGOs, CSOs, the organized private sector, and indeed everyone for the Sanitation programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the government of Nigeria in general.

The Minister of Water Resources, and Sanitation Professor Joseph Terlumun, said that everyone has a role to play, from breaking the taboo on toilets to fixing leaking water and waste pipes, and reporting indiscriminate dumping of sludge.

“We all can do our part in accelerating universal access to sanitation services for all Nigerians depending on the contributions of multiple and interconnected actors at homes, schools.” He  said.

Sustainable Access
Professor Terlumun noted that the 2023 World Toilet Day commemoration activities are targeted at mobilizing actions at all levels through building synergy to improve sustainable access to sanitation in the country.

“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is collaborating with other partners under the auspices of the National Task Group on Sanitation, NTGS, in commemorating the 2023 World Toilet Day, it is our target to reach every Nigerian with a message on safe toilets and sanitation systems in the course of these engagements.”

“I therefore enjoin us all to be ‘Sanitation for All Advocates’ as we celebrate the 2023 World Toilet Day. Let us join forces together to accelerate the change we want to see and ensure improved access to sanitation services and practices as an essential element of our people, health, and development.” He explained.

This year’s theme: ‘Accelerating Change’ is quite apt as it inspires every individual to take personal action to help improve toilets and sanitation systems.

It underscores the fact that every sector and every Nigerian can do something and has a role to play in tackling the sanitation crisis.

 

 

 

Shakirat Sadiq