As the world marks World Toilet Day, UNICEF has revealed that no fewer than 48 million Nigerians, including 18 million children, still practice open defecation, highlighting a critical sanitation challenge in the country.
Addressing journalists in the South East during activities to commemorate the day, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, a Health Specialist representing UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, stated, “Open defecation increases the risk of waterborne diseases through contamination of water sources.”
UNICEF disclosed alarming statistics, including that 95 million Nigerians lack access to basic sanitation services. Furthermore, 70% of schools—equivalent to approximately 91,000 institutions—do not have basic sanitation facilities. Health facilities are similarly affected, with 88% (about 27,600 facilities) without sanitation access. Markets and motor parks also fare poorly, with 80% lacking basic sanitation services.
UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Mrs. Gabriel R. Bolatito, expressed concern about reduced WASH budget allocations by many states. “Sanitation expenditure accounted for just 4% of the total WASH budget from 2018 to 2022, compared to 31% allocated to water,” she stated.
The organization noted that only 17% of local government areas (134 out of 774) have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, with 98% of these successes occurring in UNICEF-supported states. However, UNICEF lamented a decline in federal commitment since 2023, which has stalled ODF initiatives nationwide.
Highlighting the scale of the problem, UNICEF estimated that achieving ODF status across the country requires an annual investment of approximately ₦168.75 billion. Unfortunately, only ₦15 billion was invested between 2018 and 2022.
UNICEF attributed slow progress to limited involvement of traditional and religious leaders, governance challenges, and inadequate accountability. Mrs. Bolatito called for a community-focused approach, encouraging areas facing water scarcity to adopt innovative solutions such as the Sato pan toilet system, which requires minimal water.
“More investment and better sanitation governance are critical for a fairer, more peaceful world,” UNICEF emphasized, urging collective action to eradicate open defecation and improve sanitation infrastructure across Nigeria.
