The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s significant sanitation deficits, revealing that 70% of schools and 88% of health facilities in the country lack access to basic sanitation services.
Coordinator and Officer in Charge (OIC) of UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, Dr Olusoji Akinleye, disclosed these figures during a media dialogue in Enugu on Tuesday, marking the 2024 World Toilet Day. The event, themed “Toilets: A Place for Peace,” emphasized the urgent need for improved sanitation infrastructure in Nigeria.
Dr. Akinleye revealed that 48 million Nigerians, including 18 million children, still practice open defecation. He further highlighted that:
- 70% of schools (~91,000 institutions) lack access to basic sanitation services.
- 88% of health facilities (~27,600 establishments) do not have adequate sanitation.
- 80% of markets and motor parks are similarly without basic sanitation infrastructure, posing significant public health risks.
Akinleye identified inadequate funding as a major barrier to progress, noting that only 17% of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. He further disclosed that just ₦15 billion was invested in sanitation infrastructure between 2018 and 2022, far below the annual funding requirement of ₦168.75 billion.
“Federal commitment to sanitation has declined since 2023, resulting in stalled ODF initiatives,” Akinleye added.
Rebecca Gabriel, a WASH Specialist with UNICEF’s Enugu office, stressed the importance of collective action in tackling the sanitation crisis. She urged governments, private organizations, and individuals to invest more in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in schools and public places.
“Toilets should be built in schools and other public spaces to reduce open defecation. Everyone must be involved—government and public-spirited individuals—so we can achieve zero ODF in every state of Nigeria,” Gabriel stated.
As part of its broader Resilience Strategy, the Lagos State Government has approved the construction of 100 public toilets across the state. This initiative aims to ensure every Local Government and Local Council Development Area has accessible public sanitation facilities.
At the federal level, Vice President Kashim Shettima called on state governors to intensify efforts to make Nigeria open-defecation-free within the next five years. He emphasized that achieving this goal would enhance public health, dignity, and productivity for Nigerians.
UNICEF’s findings underscore the critical need for increased investments and sustained efforts to address Nigeria’s sanitation challenges. With collective action, the country can make significant strides toward achieving universal access to sanitation and improving the overall quality of life.
