The Federal Government has complained about Nigerians who still defecate in public, saying despite just a year left to the deadline to end the practice, about 48 million Nigerians still engage in it.
The Minister of State for Environment, Ishaq Salako stated this on Thursday, May 2, at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committees on Environment, Water Resources, Works, Ecological Funds and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
He noted that the number represents 23 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
The Minister also stated that over 159 million Nigerians lack access to washing hands facilities, adding that the FG needs to build one million public toilets across the country’s six geo-political zones.
He said;
“According to the road map, 43, 000 toilets are required across the country. But currently, the reality is that 48 million people are practicing open defecation nationwide thereby requiring a minimum of one million toilets across the country. As of today, 5,004 toilets have been constructed across the country in public places.
“When the President signed the order, it came with an approval of N63.6 billion to be spread over the six years when the programme to end open defecation would last but to date, what has been received is not up to an annual allocation.”
He also urged that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency be mobilised to carry out its role as provided in the law.
“I want to assure you that NESREA is the police of the environment and without the police, you cannot enforce. Without enforcing them, the laws are toothless. We need more empowerment for the police of the environment which is NESREA.
“I believe strongly that if we can do that, we can enforce to ensure that the state, local governments and average Nigerians fully comply with the laws and policies of the Federal Government guiding defecation,” he said.
