UNICEF – 95 Million Nigerians Lack Access to Sanitation Services

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that over 95 million Nigerians do not have access to sanitation services.

Olusoji Akinleye, the coordinator and officer in charge of the UNICEF office in Enugu, shared this information on Tuesday, November 19, during a media dialogue in Enugu to mark the 2024 World Toilet Day.

The theme for this year’s observance was “Toilets: A Place for Peace.” World Toilet Day has been observed annually on November 19 since 2013 by the United Nations.

Mr. Akinleye further highlighted that 48 million Nigerians, including 18 million children, currently practice open defecation. Additionally, 95 million Nigerians do not have access to basic sanitation services.

“Also, 70 per cent of schools without access to basic sanitation services (~91,000 schools); 88 per cent of health facilities without access to basic sanitation (27,600 health facilities),” he said.

He further lamented that 80 percent of markets and motor parks lack access to basic sanitation. He attributed the persistence of open defecation (ODF) in Nigeria to insufficient funding.

“Only 17 per cent (134 out of 774) LGAs have achieved ODF, with nine per cent of successes in UNICEF-supported states.

“Federal commitment declined since 2023, resulting in stalled ODF initiatives,” he said.

He stated that the annual funding required to address open defecation (ODF) was approximately ₦168.75 billion, but only ₦15 billion had been invested between 2018 and 2022.