File photo: Open defecation
The Federal Government says Nigeria now ranks number one in the world with people practicing open defecation.
Mr Suleiman Adamu, the Minister, Ministry of Water Resources disclosed
this while declaring open a two-day Private Sector Forum on Sanitation,
on Monday in Abuja.
The forum was organised by Organised Private Sector on Sanitation with
the theme:”Coordinating Indigenous Private Sector Initiatives to End
Open Defecation in Nigeria”.
It would be recalled that on Oct 2. India exited as the world number one
with the highest number of people practising open defecation in the
world.
According to Adamu, Nigeria currently ranks at number one, in terms of
the number of people practicing open defecation in Africa.
“Moreover, we are on the brink of being ranked first globally, as
approximately 47 million people do not have access to sanitation
services in its most basic form.
“Understandably, this is a serious concern to all of us as it has
immense economic consequences and also hinders the social development of
the country,” he said.
He said that the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six is aimed at
ensuring availability of WASH services as well as the sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
He said that the SDGs, Target 6.2 also focused on achieving access to
adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open
defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and
those in vulnerable situations.
Adamu said that although the SDGs have stipulated these targets, they
have also highlighted some hurdles that would require collaborative
efforts to overcome them “which is our concern for the course of this
workshop’’.
“Besides the exposure to diseases, there is a lack of dignity that
is inherent in open defecation practices, particularly with regard to
women and girls. As such, there is also a gender inequality issue which
must be addressed with urgency.
“If effective solutions are not found, the non availability of
sanitation facilities inadvertently further exposes women and girls to
violence including rape, when they are forced to go out at night to
defecate in the open.
“Again, I will emphasise that this problem has many layers in terms of the vast consequences.
“As part of the efforts to address this issue with particular reference
to ending open defecation, a National Roadmap towards making Nigeria
Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2025 was developed and launched in 2016.
“However, only minimal progress has been achieved in the implementation
of the Roadmap with only 14 LGAs across the country so far being
certified as open defecation free, according to the National ODF
Protocol.
“However, it is comforting to note the positive efforts being made by my
ministry in the WASH sector toward improving the living standards of
our people both in the rural and urban areas.
“Access to Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene are part of the indices
for socio-economic development of any nation and thus cannot be
ignored,” Adamu said.
The minister however, said that the role of the private sector in the
revitalisation of the WASH sector would not be overlooked as the engine
for economic growth and key players to creating innovative structures
that pertains to the financing of WASH services.
He said that historically, the private sector had always been adept at
coming up with new technologies and solutions relating to development.
“However, this is the first time that there is a call toward
leveraging the capabilities of the private sector in a collaborative
manner in light of dealing with inadequate WASH services globally.
“The SDGs have also reiterated this point that the eradication of
inequality in water and sanitation cannot be achieved without greater
emphasis on private sector engagement,” he said.
He said the essence of the forum was to identify areas of private sector
involvement and collaboration on issues of (WASH), and ultimately come
up with innovative solutions on how the pressing challenges would be
effectively addressed.
“This workshop will address the challenges of financing the WASH
sector through the collaboration of all stakeholders including the
private sector to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) WASH
targets by 2030, ” he said.
Dr Nicolas Igwe, the Managing Director, Zenith Project Ltd. said the
two-day workshop was to create stronger private sector collaboration in
the light of solving national WASH problems and also to meet
international standard as the key.
Igwe said that there was need to reinforce commitment to re-emphasising
multi-sectoral solutions in WASH as part of the private sector culture
in Nigeria.
Mr Benson Attach, the National Coordinator, Society for Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) said it was committed to supporting the
Federal Government, private sector and other partners in addressing the
issues of WASH in the country.
“We want to call on all partners to ensure that we avoid those
issues that will not keep us on track and let us also access the
challenges and come up with strategies that will enable us achieve Open
Defecation Free (ODF) by 2025,” he said.
(NAN)