Community members in Aleita, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory have commended UNICEF for providing an eco-friendly toilet facility at L.E.A. Primary School, Aleita.
Speaking at the inauguration of the facility, the Head Teacher, Mr. Suleiman Gimba, described the project as a “dream come true”.
“When the NGOs first brought the idea, I thought it was not realistic, but thank God today we have seen the reality. The toilet has been built, the water system is functional and everything was done using plastic materials.
“This project will help eradicate open defecation because our old toilets had completely collapsed,” he said.
Gimba expressed appreciation to UNICEF, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) and other implementing partners for their dedication, noting that the new facility would significantly improve hygiene and learning conditions for pupils.
The Chairman of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Mr. Sunday Makama, also praised the initiative for enhancing sanitation in the area.
“I appreciate RUWASA and UNICEF for this project. This has opened our eyes to understand that open defecation is dangerous.
“When they came to this school, they discovered there was no toilet facility at all. They decided to construct this eco-friendly toilet, and today we are seeing the result,” he said.
Makama added that the community was impressed by the durability of the structure, which was built using sand-filled plastic bottles.
“We have seen that this kind of structure is strong and sustainable. In the future, we hope similar facilities or even classrooms can be built using these same materials,” he said.
Also speaking, the Women Leader of Aleita community, Mrs. Saratu Zakwoyi, expressed satisfaction with the project and its impact on children’s health and dignity.
“We are happy with what we have seen because it will help our children take care of themselves properly when they need to use the facility.
“At first, when we heard they would build toilets using plastic bottles, we doubted how that could happen. But now we have seen it with our eyes. I have even used the toilet myself — it is clean and comfortable,” she said.
Zakwoyi appealed to UNICEF and government agencies to extend similar projects to the wider community.
“It is a good initiative and we will continue to support government’s efforts to improve our living standard.
“For many in Aleita, the inauguration of this eco-friendly sanitation facility is more than just the construction of a project. It is a symbol of progress, environmental consciousness and community empowerment,” she added.
Residents, school authorities and parents echoed a shared message: with continued support from government agencies, local stakeholders and UNICEF, sustainable sanitation and hygiene can be achieved across Nigerian schools and communities.
