Federal government, has announced a significant policy shift, mandating that all building plans in Nigeria must now include provisions for toilets.
The directive was made during the 2023 World toiletday Commemoration in Abuja, on Tuesday, with the theme “Accelerating Change”.
Expressing conern over the prevalent use of open defication in the country, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stress the need to integrate toilets into all building plans.
Balarabe, outlined plans to propose this requirement to state governments, urging all building institutions to enforce it.
He highlited the consequences of inadequate sanitation, noting it’s adverse effects on public health, education, general well-being and productivity.
Balarabe, particularly emphasised the disproportionate impact on poorest individuals, especially girls and women.
Acknowledging the current state of sanitary facilities in institutions, Balarabe, call for urgent investment and innovation throughout the entire sanitation service chain.
He emphasised the importance of sewerage systems in urban areas and safe sewage collection to address the challenges of disposal effectively.
Balarabe, noted deficiencies during a sanitary inspection of Federal government unity schools in the FCT, such as locked or poorly maintened toilets and inadequate water supply.
The Minister, tasked schools facing similar challenges to take note and enhance their sanitation conditions.
Balarabe, recognised Federal Government College Rubochi and Federal Government College Kwali, as the cleanest schools in the FCT during the World Toiletday Commemoration.
Meanwhile the director overseeing the office of the permanent secretary of the federal Ministry of Environment, Charles Ikeah, reiterate the global and national importance of addressing the sanitation crisis.
Ikeah, stressed the threat it poses to nature and public health, particularly among vulnerable groups.
He pointed out that over 3.5billion people worldwide lack safe toilets, with 48 million Nigerians still practicing open defication.
He also highlighted the high rate of diarrheal diseases, especially among children under the age of five, emphasizing the preventable nature of these issues through accessible and adequate toilet facilities.
Representative from the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Hassan Mailifiya, underscored the significance of proper sanitation practices calling for collective efforts to ensure no one is left behind in sanitation matters.
The World Toiletday, is marked annually, every 19th, November, which serves as a reminder of global commitment to improving sanitation conditions.
