THE Federal Government today said it is disturbed that many Nigerians still practice open defecation in spite of the efforts by relevant stakeholders and government agencies to sensitise the people on the dangers of open defecation.
Minister of Environment, Usman Jibril, spoke in Abuja during a ministerial briefing heralding the year 2018 World Toilet Day with the team “When Nature Calls.”
He spoke through the Permanent Secretary Mr Leon Aliboh, disclosing that about 4.5 billion people in the world live without safe toilet and 892 million people still practice open defecation.
The Minister said one of the major consequences of poor excreta disposal was the high rate of diarrhoea disease which is said to be the second cause of high rates of mortality amongst children under the age of five.
He said the persistent cholera outbreak in some states and the occurrence and reoccurrence of other excreta-related diseases are also manifestations of inadequate toilet facilities.
Jibril, however, said the federal government is committed to addressing the sanitation challenges including ending open defecation in the country and ensuring proper management of excreta.
The Minister said the commitment was demonstrated by Mr President’s recent declaration of a state of Emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the country.
The Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with other Stakeholders has put together a series of activities to mark the World Toilet Day Commemoration as follows: school pupils sensitisation, sanitary inspection of Federal Government premises, and sanitary inspection of markets, Motor Parks and community Awareness Campaign he said.