The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stated that the significant prevalence of open defecation results in substantial socio-economic losses for the country.
According to the UN agency, about 48 million people still defecate in the open – mostly in the rural areas.
Clement Adams, Officer-in-Charge/Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, disclosed this at the Media Dialogue on World Toilet Day, WTD, 2023 held in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The WTD is themed ‘Accelerating Change’ to highlight the journey towards achieving SDG 6- Clean Water and Sanitation.
He said,” Economically incentivizing sanitation through the approach of toilet business owners, creates jobs and improves income generation while leading us to our goal to become open defecation free.
“We are about seven years away from 2030 – the country’s global target for the SDGs. We must therefore reinvigorate our efforts if we must meet the sanitation target of SDG 6 – safe toilets…