Over 45 million Nigerians still engages in open defection, Minister of Environment says

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has disclosed that over 45 million Nigerians still engage in open defecation, while only about 25% of the population has access to safely managed sanitation facilities.

Lawal shared this information during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, coinciding with the 2025 World Toilet Day, themed “Sanitation in a Changing World” and featuring the slogan “We’ll Always Need the Toilet.” He was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Kambari.

The theme highlights the escalating challenges posed by climate change, rapid urbanization, and increasing inequality, all of which place significant pressure on sanitation systems. The United Nations General Assembly recognized November 19 as World Toilet Day to raise awareness of global sanitation issues affecting billions.

According to Lawal, toilets are essential for public health as they facilitate the safe disposal of human waste, mitigate the spread of diseases, and uphold human dignity. Unfortunately, sanitation systems in many regions, including Nigeria, are often overlooked or inadequately funded.

“Globally, approximately 4.2 billion people lack access to safe toilets. In Nigeria alone, over 45 million individuals practice open defecation, while only about a quarter of the population can access safely managed sanitation services,” he stated.

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He mentioned that many schools, healthcare facilities, and public institutions either don’t have toilets or maintain poorly functioning ones. In urban regions, inadequate sewage systems lead to unsafe wastewater disposal, exacerbating environmental pollution.

Lawal pointed out that poor sanitation is a significant factor in diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and intestinal worms, particularly affecting children under five. It contributes to antimicrobial resistance and could impede Nigeria’s progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, which aims for universal access to adequate sanitation and hygiene by 2030.

Despite these hurdles, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to eliminating open defecation and achieving an Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2030. He mentioned ongoing initiatives, including the Presidential Declaration of a State of Emergency on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, as well as the Executive Order No. 009 (2019) aimed at ending open defecation, which is currently being reviewed.

Additionally, he stated that the ministry, in collaboration with stakeholders, has revised the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy to include updated guidelines for safe excreta and sewage disposal.

Dr. Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, emphasized that billions worldwide still lack safe toilets and cautioned that inadequate sanitation poses serious health risks, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable populations.

“Today’s observance provides an opportunity to evaluate progress and recommit ourselves to eradicating open defecation by 2030,” she noted.

Abubakar Kende, Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, described sanitation as a fundamental human right and urged for immediate action given the challenges of climate change, limited funding, crowded urban areas, and cultural obstacles. He highlighted ongoing initiatives under the National Strategic Plan of Action on Cholera Control aimed at enhancing sanitation and hygiene across the country.

In 2024, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, estimated Nigeria incurs a loss of around $3 billion annually due to poor sanitation practices, including reliance on shared and unhygienic toilets and open defecation. He acknowledged that the country is currently falling short of its global sanitation targets.