World Toilet Day: UNICEF, Kano Call for End to Open Defecation

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is partnering with the Federal Ministry of environment, to stop the menace of open defecation across Kano state.

The Kano State Government has urged Nigerians to stop practicing open defecation, citing its severe impact on human health and the environment.

State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Alhaji Nasiru Sule Garo, made the appeal during a road walk marking the 2024 International Toilet Day in Kano state.

“Celebrated annually on November 19th, World Toilet Day aims to tackle the global sanitation crisis and reach 3.5 billion people without access to safely managed sanitation.”

Garo emphasized the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene, highlighting the United Nations’ efforts to promote toilet use and prevent open defecation.

The Abba Yusuf administration has renovated and constructed public toilets, encouraging citizens to use these facilities instead of practicing open defecation.

This initiative aims to prevent disease spread, reduce water source contamination, and promote overall well-being.

UNICEF WASH Officer Stella Ifeoma-Terver noted Kano State’s progress, with a 2% open defecation rate and eight local governments achieving open defecation-free status this year.

Ms Ifeoma-Terver, appealed for public support to ensure every household and public place has a toilet, particularly in almajiri areas, to achieve open defecation-free status by 2025.