The Minister of State for Environment, Izhaq Adekunle Saleko, has revealed that 48 million Nigerians, representing 23% of the total population, still practice open defecation despite a 2025 deadline to end the practice.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Saleko stated that the Federal Government needs to construct 1 million public toilets across the 36 states, but so far, only 5,000 toilets have been provided.
Nigeria is lagging behind in ending open defecation, and the Federal Government cannot provide toilets for every Nigerian, Saleko admitted. However, the Ministry has taken steps to address the issue, including developing the National Environmental Sanitation Policy and guidelines on sewage and excreta management.
The Ministry has also established sanitation desks in the 36 states and FCT to monitor and ensure proper environmental sanitation. Additionally, the Ministry has initiated programs such as “Clean and Green” to eliminate open defecation by 2025 and ensure sustainable total sanitation.
The Minister called for the commemoration of National Environmental Sanitation Day on June 28th every year to create awareness on the importance of environmental sanitation and good hygiene practices.
The situation is dire, with 159 million Nigerians lacking access to washing hand facilities, and the Ministry is working to address this through various initiatives, including community-based interventions and national environment sanitation interventions.
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