By Ijeoma UKAZU
With the 2025 deadline staring in the face, which is the target year to end open defecation in Nigeria, available evidence shows that achieving the target is a far cry.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS 6 report launched in 2022 but conducted in 2021 by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and other development agencies further shows that Nigeria is still scratching the surface in eradicating open defecation.
Aside from open defecation, the survey also provided data for assessing; maternal and child health, immunization, and family planning amongst others. The collaborative report also provided data for assessing the situation of children and women in Nigeria.
In November 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared a state of emergency in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector with the launch of a national campaign tagged “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” as the pacesetter for the total eradication of open defecation by 2025.
With less than 2 years to the target time, available statistics show the country is still far from achieving the goal.
Meanwhile, target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs highlights the elimination of open defecation as a means of improving the health, nutrition, and productivity of developing countries’ populations such as Nigeria’s.
UNICEF recently listed Kwara, Plateau, and Ebonyi as states with the highest number of people who defecate in the open while Abia, Zamfara, and Akwa Ibom had the lowest rates.
In Southwest, the MICS 6 report, as presented by Oluwasola Olanipekun, the Planning and Monitoring Specialist, UNICEF Akure field office shows that all states in the South West Region of Nigeria, except Lagos, have a higher open defecation rate than the national percentage of 22.2 percent of the population.”
According to the data, Oyo state ranks highest with 40 percent, and Ekiti state has 38 percent of its population still defecating in the open. Followed by Ogun state with 36 percent, Osun with 25 percent, Ondo state has 24 percent and Lagos having the least with 2 percent of its population defecating in the open.
Only 27 percent of people are not using improved drinking water sources in Ogun State and that is the highest in the Southwest states. Ondo has the lowest use of improved sanitation facilities. Hand washing is generally low in the whole of Southwest but lowest in Ondo state.
Combating open defecation in Lagos state
Although Lagos State was ranked low in open defecation according to the MICS 6 data, the state is not yet Open Defecation Free, ODF –a term used to describe a community or state free from open defecation having provided all the necessary infrastructure to ensure people don’t defecate in the open.
With Lagos not being the perfect description of what it should be, the state is continuously putting efforts to ensure it is setting a good example in open defecation in the southwest region.
Recently, our reporter interviewed Mr. Adebayo Sadeeq, around the Oshodi/ Mushin area of Lagos state who is in charge of maintaining the mobile toilets said, “Daily, I make sure that people who use the toilets get value for their money.”
Sadeeq adds that the payment ranges from N50 to N100 for the service he renders. “The funds generated, I use to maintain the mobile toilets and buy detergents and water. People often use this place because it is always clean and so far, it has stopped people from messing up this area.”
He however declined to reveal how much he makes in a day but insists it’s a good business as income derived is used to take care of his family and personal needs.
He called on the Lagos state government to provide more of these toilets as it would help curb open defecation in the state as well as improve the health and well-being of Lagosians.
The effect of open defecation
Open defecation according to experts has myriad impacts on the health and well-being of people. The practice brings with it significant health risks, linked to death from Cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid
Health experts say Cholera infection happens when flies from the waste of fecal matter perch on foods or drinks. This is transmitted when an individual consumes such infected food.
Experts lament that more than 100,000 children under five years of age die each year due to diarrhea; of which 90 percent is directly attributable to unsafe water and sanitation.
A UNICEF report also posits that one in four children under five years of age exhibit severe stunting, while one in 10 is wasted, due to frequent episodes of diarrhea and other Water Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, related diseases.
The UN report further states that “Frequent episodes of WASH-related diseases cause absence from school or work, as affected people take time off to heal, and some to take care of a sick relative. In most homes, children are responsible for fetching clean water for domestic use. Time spent in search of water and frequent episodes of WASH-related diseases results in reduced school enrolment and attendance. Open defecation also results in loss of dignity, increased risks of insecurity, and violence against women and children.”
According to the UNICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH Specialist, Mr. Bioye Ogunjobi, the practice of open defecation has contributed to the outbreak of cholera and diarrhea in Nigeria.
Ogunjobi said several studies have revealed that diarrhea is the second largest killer of children in Nigeria and more than 50 percent of diarrhea cases are caused by open defecation, adding that the government of Nigeria and the people spend a lot of money on the treatment of diseases most of which are preventable by ending open defecation.
Jigawa as a model
Last year, in October, the Federal government declared Jigawa state as open defecation free. Making it the first state in Nigeria to attain that feat.
According to NAN, Suleiman Adamu, minister of water resources at a world news conference said 85 LGAs in Nigeria have been certified Open defecation free, adding that Jigawa has “blazed the trail as the first state to become open defecation free”.
He said this is a call to stakeholders and development partners to re-strategize and address sanitation challenges in the country.
Partners should proffer solutions that will help to resolve the issues around open defecation.
Ending the practice
Ogunjobi however called for more awareness of open defecation and its effect, stressing that this message should trickle down, especially to rural dwellers.
According to him, “If people know that what they are doing is the cause of their children’s constant ailments, they will likely stop the practice.”
He tasked stakeholders, and private individuals to support government efforts in ending open defecation in Nigeria.