UNICEF Reveals Alarming Sanitation Gap: 95 Million Nigerians Affected
UNICEF recently highlighted a critical issue facing Nigeria: approximately 95 million Nigerians lack access to essential sanitation services, leaving many vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
This situation underscores the significant challenges in the country’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Despite the launch of initiatives like the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign in 2018, which aims to eliminate open defecation by 2025, progress has been slow.
As of now, around 24% of Nigerians still practice open defecation, one of the highest rates globally.
The poorest communities are disproportionately affected, with inadequate access to basic facilities such as toilets and clean water.
UNICEF and its partners have proposed innovative solutions, including sanitation marketing, financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships.
These efforts aim to increase the availability of affordable toilets, create job opportunities, and strengthen sanitation supply chains