The Federal Government has officially commissioned a modern smart toilet facility at Orange Market in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. This strategic initiative, launched to commemorate the 2025 World Toilet Day, represents a significant step in Nigeria's battle against open defecation practices.
Minister Lawal Addresses Sanitation Challenges
During the ceremony, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe A. Lawal, highlighted the relevance of this year's theme, "Sanitation in a Changing World." He emphasized that the theme perfectly captures the dynamic environmental, social, and public health issues confronting Nigeria and the global community.
Lawal firmly stated that access to a safe and clean toilet is a fundamental human right, not a luxury. He stressed that proper sanitation systems are crucial for protecting public health and preserving the environment, especially considering rapid urbanization and population growth in cities.
The Global and Local Sanitation Crisis
The Minister provided sobering statistics, noting that the United Nations General Assembly designated World Toilet Day to highlight the plight of billions. Globally, approximately 4.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation, while a staggering 892 million still practice open defecation.
Focusing on Nigeria, Lawal described access to safe toilets as a major public health and environmental challenge. He revealed that according to the National Demographic and Health Survey, access to improved sanitation remains below 36% for most Nigerians. The absence of clean, functional toilets in public spaces like markets and motor parks is a primary driver of open defecation, leading to the contamination of food and water sources and the spread of deadly diseases.
He directly linked poor sanitation to the transmission of illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A, and polio.
Collaborative Efforts for a Healthier Future
Minister Lawal extended commendations to key development partners who made the project possible, including:
- UNICEF
- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- The Nigeria Red Cross Society
- eHealth Africa
He also thanked the project investors and the leadership of Orange Market for their cooperation.
Earlier at the event, Dr. Stephen O. Ohize, Regional Coordinator of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, warned that diseases like cholera spread rapidly in areas plagued by open defecation, poor waste management, and unsafe water. He noted that these challenges are intensifying with increasing climate change and population growth.
Dr. Ohize reaffirmed his organization's commitment to supporting multisectoral collaboration and evidence-based planning through hotspot mapping and community engagement. The ultimate goal, he stated, is to achieve a cholera-free Nigeria through sustained investment and effort.
