Nigeria needs about 11 million toilets nationwide, as UNICEF urges the private sector to take a more active role in solving the country’s sanitation crisis.
A high-level meeting in Lagos gathered government officials, private sector representatives, and international organizations to address the critical issue of open defecation in Nigeria.
Participants highlighted the severe health, economic, and social consequences of this practice, calling for immediate improvements in sanitation infrastructure and public awareness.
UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Nigeria, Dr. Jane Bevan, stressed that around 48 million Nigerians still lack access to toilets, making Nigeria one of the worst countries for open defecation.
Bevan emphasized that the government cannot solve this problem alone and called for private businesses to invest in public toilets and support sanitation services, particularly in urban areas like Lagos.
Céline Lafourcade, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, echoed this, stating that private sector involvement is crucial for achieving nationwide sanitation access.
She highlighted the economic opportunities for businesses, urging for partnerships to improve infrastructure and drive behavioural change.
Olusola Obadimu, Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), emphasized the need for better hygiene to attract investment. Open defecation, he warned, damages Nigeria’s image and deters investors.
Representatives from the National Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the US Chamber of Commerce also stressed the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s sanitation crisis, citing its significant health and economic impacts.
They called for collaboration between the government and private sector to build toilets, manage waste, and provide safe drinking water.
Despite progress, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation noted that only 126 of Nigeria’s 774 local governments have achieved open defecation-free status.
She emphasized the need for greater investment, better infrastructure, and stronger partnerships to meet the country’s sanitation goals.
