By Chibuzo Ihegboro
UNICEF has disclosed that Nigeria requires approximately 20 million toilets to eliminate open defecation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Jane Bevan, Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), stated this yesterday at a two-day media dialogue in Lagos focused on ending open defecation in Nigeria and eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
The media dialogue, organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), gathered stakeholders from Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun states, alongside representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and the private sector.
Bevan emphasized the need for better hygiene practices and strong political commitment from the government to end open defecation. She highlighted the severe health risks associated with the practice and called for urgent action, stating, “We need political will to tackle open defecation. We need to make it real and make washing our hands a priority. This is what the media must help promote so that we can put an end to open defecation.”