United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has lamented that Bauchi State accounts for just eight of 105 local councils in Nigeria that are Open Defecation-Free (ODF), despite sustained efforts to raise the tally.

The Guardian reports that in March 2018, Dass Local Council was the first to be declared ODF in the North, following Obanliku Local Council of Cross Rivers State. Five years later, Bauchi has only recorded eight councils without open defecation.

Stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have urged the state to do more in achieving statewide ODF status, just as Jigawa State has done in its 27 local councils.

While speaking in Azare, Katagum Local Council of Bauchi, Dr. Clement Adams of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office said the World Toilet Day this year 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).”

Access to safe and clean toilets, according to him, prevents the spread of diseases.

“The access to safe toilets 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 needs to be replicated across the country. Out of 774 councils 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, described Katagum, which is recently certified ODF, as a testimony to efforts of the state government.

Zaki, who was represented by the General Manager of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Adamu Sambo, said 113,000 improved toilets had been constructed across the state.