According to the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), Nigeria has ranked third in the world among countries where open defecation is still being practised.
The UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Nigeria, Mr Zaid Jurji, made this known in Katsina during a courtesy visit to Governor Aminu Masari.
“The situation of sanitation in Nigeria is alarming. Nigeria is third worldwide when it comes to open defecation, one-third of the population practise it.
“Nigeria is a heavy weight country, not only in Africa, but worldwide.
“It does not go well to know that open defecation is being practised widely in various communities in a strong country like Nigeria”, he said.
Jurji gave assurance of UNICEF’s assistance in providing funds that will be integrated with funds from state government to improve basic amenities and services.
He also encouraged leaders to continuously educate the people on the dangers of open defecation in the society.
“We believe that Nigerians listen to their leaders, and maybe a couple of statements from you, on many occasions as appropriate, will start making a difference.
“Our role to is see that happening, but changing people’s attitudes by making them to know that open defecation is something Nigerians cannot stand anymore,” he said.
Katsina State Governor, in his remarks, said the state government is making efforts to provide pit latrines in public places including schools, motor parks and market centres.
Masari added that 110 pit latrines had been constructed in primary schools while another 118 latrines have also been constructed in some schools across the state by the State Universal Basic Education, (SUBEB).
He added that the reduction of open defecation would improve sanitation and help reduce the outbreak of diseases by up to 50%.
In Nigeria, waste management has proved to be a difficult task. Previous administrations and private bodies have made collaborated efforts to address the issue in the past.
Some factors responsible for the trend include poor funding, high population, lack of enforcement of existing laws and regulations among others.
With human waste on the increase, the unease between government and private owned waste disposal bodies has also posed a stumbling block in the disposal of wastes as both parties are often in legal hassles.
According to UNICEF, open defecation remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children.
Reports show that diarrhoea and respiratory infections resulting from poor sanitation and hygiene kills about 400,000 children under the age of five annually.
“Women and girls living in Nigeria without toilet facilities spend 3.1 billion hours each year finding a place to go to the toilet in the open. There is no reason why the scourge of open defecation must not end in Nigeria,” the report read.
Government at all levels have been called to invest more in the provision of proper sanitation. The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon once declared sanitation a vital tool for improving the lives of millions of the poorest people.
