A recent report indicates that only two percent of Kano State residents are still practicing open defecation.

The Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, confirmed this during the commemoration of the 2024 World Toilet Day with the theme: “Toilet: A Place for Peace.” He said the state achieved the milestone in ending open defecation across its 44 local government areas.

Media reports show that the Kano State government was commended as the feat suggests a deliberate and collective effort to end open defecation in the state.

Farah was quoted to have said, “UNICEF congratulates the Government and people of Kano State on achieving open defecation-free status for eight of its LGAs in 2024. This has brought to 26, the total number of LGAs in Kano State that have ended open defecation. UNICEF is pleased to have partnered with the Kano State Government to achieve this milestone.

“This is a momentous achievement, but the job is not done just yet. Kano State Government, LGAs, communities and all stakeholders must sustain the momentum to ensure that the remaining 18 LGAs that have yet to eradicate open defecation take urgent action to do so, and thereby contribute to the goal of making Kano State and indeed Nigeria open defecation free by 2025.

“Kano has made progress with the construction and use of toilets in the eight LGAs which we are celebrating today. However, the remaining 18 LGAs yet to end open defecation include the bulk of urban LGAs in Kano, and we need to act and do more to get these LGAs to achieve this lofty goal as well.

“UNICEF appreciates the Kano state Government for organising this special event to honour the eight LGAs that have eliminated open defecation and urges your Excellency to sustain commitment until all the LGAs in Kano state become open defecation free. With the support of your Excellency, Kano State can achieve this goal in 2025.

“According to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping Report 2021 (WASHNORM 2021), only 2 per cent of people in the state still practice open defecation, this looks small but when juxtaposed against the population of Kano, it becomes large. Therefore, concerted efforts with genuine commitments need to be put in place to address this problem.”

Knowing that the feat by the kano State government in sanitation is not limited to Sustainable Development Goal 6 but has far-reaching results in all other goals and most especially SDGs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 is gratifying, to say the least.

According to UNICEF, those goals could be achieved through the implementation of Community Approaches to the Total Sanitation Concept which not only promotes inclusiveness, equality, and active participation across all community segments but also promotes gender mainstreaming, empowerment, and skills for decision-making in community issues.

Considering that, in 2019, Nigeria became the number one open-defecation nation globally, surpassing India, with 50 million Nigerians (or 10 million households) defecating in the open, Kano State under Governor Abbah Yusuf should be commended for the determination to end the practice.

According to a recent UNICEF WASH report, there are significant disparities in access to sanitation in Nigeria. Members of the wealthiest 20 per cent of households are five times more likely to use improved sanitation than are members of the poorest 20 per cent of households. Almost none of the wealthiest 20 per cent of households practice open defecation, whereas more than half of the poorest 20 per cent do not use any type of sanitation facilities. Open defecation is three times more likely in rural areas than in urban areas. Before Gov. Abba’s intervention, public convenience facilities were not sufficiently available in both urban slums and rural areas in Kano State.

But in August this year, the governor announced new strategies to ensure an adequate supply of clean drinking water to rural communities. These strategies also aim to reduce open defecation across all 44 local government areas. As part of the initiative, the government conducted train-the-trainer sessions for residents in those communities, equipping them with the necessary skills to improve sanitation and water management. The Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Abbas Abbas, made it known during a handover event for Kano and Jigawa states, organised by the Water Improvement and Sanitation Enhancement Project.

Those strategies led to a significant decrease in open defecation as indicated by the UNICEF report.

A very positive case in point is Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, comprising 493 communities with 11 wards, all of which have attained open defecation-free status. Hamza Ibrahim, Deputy Head of the Department of Water Sanitation and Hygiene, attributed the achievement to the Kano State and WASH programme’s collaborated effort, which has positively influenced community behaviours. “The change in my people’s behaviour, especially in their environments and households, is truly appreciable. Attaining defecation-free status wasn’t easy, but follow-up training and stakeholder involvement made it possible.”

Indeed, there are big issues of concern in Nigeria and its sub-nationals – inflation, food crisis, cost of living, etc. However, paying attention to ‘small’ matters such as ending open defecation is part of responsible governance. And at that, the Kano State government has shown the kind of commitment that is yielding results.

Kabiru Mohammed, a public affairs analyst, writes from Kano.