United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF expressed worry about the country’s slow rate of activities geared towards ending open defecation by 2025.
It noted while 48 million Nigerians, including 18 million children, practice open defecation, the country is ranked number 1 globally this year, and has been Top 5 in the last 15 years.
It urged the government and stakeholders to intensify community-led total sanitation CLTS for demand creation, mobilisation, awareness and advocacy; engage private sector to build toilets; provide financial support to access financing and low incomes toilet business owners to build their toilets.
Speaking during a media dialogue on open defecation in Bui, Borno State, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH Specialist, Ogochukwu Adimorah, said Nigeria cannot continue business as usual or it will miss the target of 2025 and 2030.
Acting General Manager, Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency RUWASSA, Babagana Saad, said some of the key factors in the achievement of open defecation free status by Bui and Shani councils, include Joint funding of projects activities between government with UNICEF, Donors; State and councils providing policy that supports the projects.
