By Ebuka Obidinma
Prince Ene Owoh, the National Co-ordinator of Clean-Up Nigeria says Nigeria has slightly improved in the practice of open defecation and also in hygiene and sanitation practices.
Owoh said this at the State of the Nigeria environment (STONE) event tagged ‘STONE 2023 PRO-MAX’ in Akwa Ibom.
STONE 2023 PRO-MAX is an annual state of the Nigeria environment study report held in conjunction with some
International Project partners which has declared Akwa Ibom as the cleanest state in Nigeria for the sixth time.
He commended the reduction in the practice of open defecation in all the 36 states of the federation and FCT from 32 per cent in 2018 to 24 per cent in 2023, but said however, that Nigeria still remains the number one country in the world in open defecation, to date (2023).
“Between 2018 and 2023 the dangers of open defecation have gradually dropped, and this can be attributed to the federal and state governments’ intensive campaign, in addition to partnership considerations with NGO’s and the private sector nationwide.
“From 2018 – 2023, we feel encouraged by the response from government at all levels and the citizenry in general for the minor but very meaningful improvements on hygiene and sanitation practices of seven per cent across the states within the past six years.
“We do this annually to bring sanitation and waste management issues to the front burner of the government and citizens.
“In the process we increase awareness and encourage alternative actions on personal hygiene and sanitation in order to sustain a cleaner, healthier and safer Nigeria, while improving the life expectancy of Nigerians”.
Owoh, ‘the Prince of the environment’, as he is fondly called, noted that in the last six years, there was a six percent improvement recorded in the procurement of waste management equipment by some governments in the country.
“However, there was a significant drop in waste management equipment as most equipment previously on ground became unserviceable.
“We equally noticed that funding by states and local government councils for waste management services has been drastically reduced based on the value of the naira presently when compared to the increased services offered.
“This equally calls for serious incremental review on the part of governments at all levels to help confront the challenges of ensuring
a cleaner, healthier and safer environment”.
He noted that the improvement of the health of sanitation workers employed both by government and private sectors to provide waste management services fell from 46 percent in 2018 to 31 percent in 2023.
“The informal sector operators of waste recycling and reuse enterprises recorded lower patronage, and suffered more setbacks as their activities reduced from 30 per cent in 2018 to 26 per cent in 2023.
“The incidence and prevalence of sanitation related diseases increased by 27 per cent in 2018 to 39 per cent in 2023.
“Inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices of the people in 32 states and the FCT still leaves much to be desired and calls for multiple strategies by all stakeholders as our studies showed 46 per cent in 2018 and 32 per cent in 2023.
“Only four states in the country namely Lagos, Oyo, Bauchi and the FCT have sanitary landfills, while the remaining 33 states operate open dumping. This development is not only alarming but calls for urgent intervention to address the situation”.
Owoh, therefore, called for the re-introduction of the monthly sanitation exercise and enforcement of regular clean-up of
drainages with renewed energy for a healthier Nigeria.
He said the call for the re-introduction of the monthly sanitation at all levels was because the citizens have seriously neglected their roles on environmental sanitation.
“There is the need to encourage and strengthen more health and
environment clubs across schools nationwide to improve and sustain the practice of hygiene and sanitation among our children.
We equally urge Nigerians, among other things, to embrace strong personal hygiene and good sanitation habits and to dispose of their waste
at the right places.
“Our gratitude therefore goes to: The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Canada; keep America Beautiful (KAB). USA; DSZ, Germany, SUEZ Foundation, France and Clean-Up the world, Australia’, he said.
