45m Nigerians Still Defecate In The Open- CEDI
BY OGBONNA NNAEMEKA HENRY
Statistics have shown that up to 45 million Nigerians are still involved in open defecation, a statement from the Community Excellence and Development Initiative (CEDI) can reveal.
This was stated at the recently commemorated World toilet Day which was marked in Abuja by the organization, which is in tandem with the United Nations and other relevant stakeholders. The theme of the commemoration was ‘When Nature Calls’.
As part of the organization’s Water, Sanitation and Health advocacy programme (WASH) advocacy, the day was observed by the organization by holding a rally using placards and disseminating Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials in 3 different locations (Area 1 Shopping Centre, El-Rufai Motor Park and Kuchingoro Community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja). A press release from the organization reads thus:
‘’The United Nations in July 2010 adopted a resolution of human right to water and sanitation and this was endorsed by the Nigerian government in July 2011. The sanitation target of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to achieve universal sanitation coverage by 2030. According to a survey conducted by UNICEF, Nigeria has the second highest prevalence of open defecation in the world. The study also shows that 25% of Nigerians still defecate openly. This implies that about 45 million Nigerians still defecate in the open and over 130 million use unimproved and shared toilet facilities. Open defecation is a huge challenge both in urban and rural areas in Nigeria. Open defecation pollutes the environment and causes health problems and it is linked to the high prevalence of water-borne infectious diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and hepatitis A, among others and high child mortality, poor nutrition and poverty in the country”.
The event featured sampling of opinions among the residents of the suburbs that were visited, regarding the state of their toilet facilities.