The Federal Government has lauded the activities of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the European Union and the Department for International Development (DFID/UKaid) towards ending open defecation in Nigeria.

The Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture who is also the Head, Child Rights Information Bureau, Mr Olumide Osanyinpeju, in his remarks at a media dialogue in Kano gave kudos to UNICEF, EU and DFID for their efforts.

The Media Dialogue on Sanitation and Hygiene which was tagged “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet”, using hashtag #Endopendefecation #cleannigeria was attended by journalists drawn from different parts of the country.

The meeting was organised by FMI/CRIB in collaboration with the UNICEF, EU and (DFID/UKaid). Osanyinpeju pleaded with Nigerian to cultivate the habit of using toilets and desist from practising open defecations

He said: “It is a fact that UNICEF has been in the forefront of ensuring that we have access to safe drinking water supply, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene in our environment and communities.

“I therefore commend UNICEF, other groups and individuals for also advancing this cause to make life safe in our communities.”

While speaking, UNICEF Communication Specialist, Dr Geoffrey Njoku, urged the media to step up reportage of issues around sanitation and to sensitize the people on the need to shun open defecation and imbibe use of toilet.

Dr Njoku urged media practitioners to use their tools to raise awareness on the benefits of cleanliness and the dangers of open defecation to their health and wellbeing.

The UNICEF Chief of Katsina Field Office, Mr Paul Mudzougo, who was represented by Mr Niyi Oyedokun also charged the journalists to enlighten members of the public on the need to stop open defecation in Nigeria.

UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Bisi Ogunjobi, said 47 million Nigerian are still practising open defecation. He said the situation must be addressed so that government would stop using resources meant for development of infrastructure on payment of medical bills.

Speaking further, Osanyinpeju said the federal government would not relent in the campaign to end open defecation in the country.

He also said that government recently declared a state of emergency on WASH Nigeria and launched an Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign strategy to jump-start the country’s journey towards ending open defecation.

His said: “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources with support from UNICEF, in partnership with Inter-Ministerial Agencies, Civil Society Partners, the Private Sector, and the people of Nigeria, is currently leading the ODF campaign to end open defecation in the country by 2025, and achieve universal access to safely manage sanitation by 2030.”

Osanyinpeju said the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign is one of the most ambitious behaviour-change campaigns in Nigeria with a strong citizen / public engagement component.

“Leveraging on what is currently working in the States with Local Government Areas’ certified ODF; this campaign mode will create a national movement with elements of policy advocacy, public advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and private sector engagement.

“Sanitation is essential to the survival and development of children. It can reduce the severity and impact of malnutrition. It can also help in reducing the spread of intestinal worms, as well as promoting dignity and boosting safety, particularly among women and children,” he said.

Osanyinpeju added that sanitation standards are intended to ensure that people do not suffer adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not available when needed. He said proper sanitation facilities would promote health because it allows people dispose of their waste appropriately.

“Open defecation,” according to him, “perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. Inadequate waste disposal promotes the infection cycle of many agents that can spread through contaminated soil, food, water and insects such as flies. Open defecation is incredibly dangerous, as contact with human waste can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio, diarrhoea, worm infestation and under nutrition.

“We must double our current efforts in order to end open defecation by 2030.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is need to increase awareness about the impact of open defecation in Nigeria. The Media is a strong vehicle to communicate the message.”

Osanyinpeju charged pressmen to arm themselves with in-depth knowledge of WASH to enable them write factual stories. “Make the stories compelling by adding an unusual angle to them,” he said.