Bauchi accounts for 8 of 105 LGAs open defecation-free in Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that eight of 105 local councils in Nigeria are open defecation-free (ODF).

The Guardian reports that in March 2018, Dass LGA was the first to be declared open defecation-free in Northern Nigeria after Obanliku local council of Cross Rivers. Five years later, Bauchi has only recorded 8 councils free from open defecation.

Stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector have urged Bauchi State to do more in achieving state-wide open defecation-free status just as Jigawa State has done in its 27 local councils.

While speaking in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi, the Officer in Charge of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Clement Adams, said that this year, the World Toilet Day is themed “Accelerating Change” to highlight the journey towards achieving “SDG 6- Clean Water and Sanitation”.

Adams said, “we are about seven years away from 2030 –the global target for the SDGs. We must therefore reinvigorate our efforts if we must meet the sanitation target of SDG 6 – safe toilets and water for all by 2030.”

According to him, access to safe and clean toilets prevents the spread of diseases; the access to safe toilet means children, especially girls, and women are protected from the risks of attacks and abuse if they had to go into bushes to defecate; access to basic WASH services is integral to school enrolment, attendance, retention, and completion – “the benefits are numerous.”

Reports say in Nigeria, about 48 million people still defecate in the open – mostly in the rural areas. “This bears severe socio-economic losses for the country.

The achievement in Katagum LGA needs to be replicated across the country. Out of 774 LGAs in the country, only 105 have been validated ODF.

“The availability of improved toilets in schools, public spaces, homes, and health facilities is critical to discouraging open defecation,” Adams said.

Also, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Nuhu Zaki said that Katagum which is recently certified ODF is a testimony to efforts of the state government. Zaki is was represented by the General Manager of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Adamu Sambo, said that 113,000 improved toilets have been constructed across the state.