The Federal government has directed sanitary inspectors to intensify efforts to clamp down on houses without toilets, as well as punish individuals engaging in open defecation.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, issued the directive during the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Kano on Tuesday.
Lawal, represented by the Director of Pollution and Environmental Health, Bahijja Abubakar, warned that open defecation would no longer be tolerated.
Lawal noted that approximately 47 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, often in bushes, and many institutions lack functional sanitary facilities. He stated that the ministry would enforce sanitation laws rigorously to address the issue.
He explained: “I wish to use this opportunity to inform you that issues of open defecation in Nigeria will no longer be business as usual. The Federal Ministry of Environment will henceforth deploy its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws in the country.
“I call on all Environmental Health Officers and Sanitary Inspectors across all levels of government to step up routine sanitary inspections in their jurisdictions and ensure that everyone in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.”
The minister highlighted the negative health consequences of open defecation, including cholera and diarrhea outbreaks, and stressed the need for massive investment and innovation in sanitation infrastructure.
“Today, many people in Nigeria still use the bush and water bodies as their regular means of excreta disposal. Many institutions do not have sanitary facilities, and where they exist, they are either non-functional or misused.
“Poor excreta disposal leads to high rates of diarrheal diseases, which are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five. The recurring cholera outbreaks in states like Kano are manifestations of inadequate toilet facilities.
Lawal noted that approximately 47 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, often in bushes, and many institutions lack functional sanitary facilities. He stated that the ministry would enforce sanitation laws rigorously to address the issue.
He explained: “I wish to use this opportunity to inform you that issues of open defecation in Nigeria will no longer be business as usual. The Federal Ministry of Environment will henceforth deploy its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws in the country.
“I call on all Environmental Health Officers and Sanitary Inspectors across all levels of government to step up routine sanitary inspections in their jurisdictions and ensure that everyone in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.”
The minister highlighted the negative health consequences of open defecation, including cholera and diarrhea outbreaks, and stressed the need for massive investment and innovation in sanitation infrastructure.
“Today, many people in Nigeria still use the bush and water bodies as their regular means of excreta disposal. Many institutions do not have sanitary facilities, and where they exist, they are either non-functional or misused.
“Poor excreta disposal leads to high rates of diarrheal diseases, which are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five. The recurring cholera outbreaks in states like Kano are manifestations of inadequate toilet facilities.
Lawal also highlighted federal initiatives, such as the State of Emergency declaration on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and the signing of Executive Order No. 009 on achieving an Open Defecation-Free Nigeria by 2025.
In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, noted the state’s progress in eliminating open defecation. He stated that 27 local government areas had achieved open defecation-free status through community-led sanitation initiatives in partnership with UNICEF and local leaders.
The governor emphasized that access to and proper utilization of toilets are critical for maintaining a clean and healthy environment, preventing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. He added that the state had renovated public toilets in markets, schools, and motor parks.
In a goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah, represented by Michael Banda, stated that only 2% of Kano residents still practice open defecation. However, he stressed that even this small percentage represents a significant challenge given the state’s large population.
“According to the WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping Report 2021 (WASHNORM 2021), only 2% of people in the state still practice open defecation. While this appears small, it becomes significant when juxtaposed with Kano’s population. Concerted efforts and genuine commitments are needed to address this problem,” Farah said.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to eight local government areas in Kano State, certifying them as open defecation-free.