The United Nations Educational Fund (UNICEF) has stated that more than 95 million Nigerians lack access to sanitation services.
Olusoji Akinleye, coordinator and officer in charge of the UNICEF office in Enugu, said this on Tuesday , November 19 in Enugu at a media dialogue to mark the “2024 World Toilet Day” with the theme “Toilets; a place for peace.”
The day is held every November 19 by the United Nations Observance since 2013.
According to Mr Akinleye, 48 million Nigerians currently practice open defecation, 18 million children inclusive, and 95 million lack access to basic sanitation services.
“Also, 70 per cent of schools without access to basic sanitation services (~91,000 schools); 88 per cent of health facilities without access to basic sanitation (27,600 health facilities),” he said.
He further decried that 80 per cent of markets and motor parks lack access to basic sanitation. He blamed insufficient funds for continued open defecation (ODF) in Nigeria.
“Only 17 per cent (134 out of 774) LGAs have achieved ODF, with nine per cent of successes in UNICEF-supported states.
“Federal commitment declined since 2023, resulting in stalled ODF initiatives,” he said.
He said the annual funding needed for ODF was approximately ₦168.75 billion, adding that only ₦15 billion was invested from 2018 to 2022.
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