By Olokuta Rofiat
Despite years of government campaigns and international support, more than 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, exposing communities to waterborne diseases and threatening the country’s 2030 open-defecation-free (ODF), target.
The WASHNORM report identifies open defecation as a major driver of cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, and neglected tropical diseases, particularly during the rainy season when floods wash human waste into water sources.
Nigeria had initially set a 2025 deadline, backed by Executive Order 009 in 2019, but delays in funding and weak implementation shifted the target to 2030.
Experts now warn that the country risks missing this new deadline unless urgent action is taken.
Between 2021 and 2023, just ₦16 million was allocated to the fight-far below what is required for toilet construction, enforcement, and community mobilization.
Environmental health officers remain poorly resourced, while penalties for public defecation are rarely enforced.
Yet, some progress exists. Jigawa State has become the first in Nigeria to achieve 100% ODF status, credited to strong political will and UNICEF partnership.
Lagos State plans to build 100 new public toilets and refurbish existing ones, while private firms like Reckitt (makers of Harpic) report refurbishing 150 public toilets and reaching over 4 million Nigerians with hygiene education.
In September 2024, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, with UNICEF support, launched the Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategic Plan to guide efforts toward 2030.
The plan urges states, local governments, NGOs, and the private sector to scale up investments and grassroots awareness.
Sanitation experts stress that beyond policies, achieving an ODF Nigeria will require sustained funding, strict enforcement, and community ownership of hygiene practices.
