By Bola Bakare
Nigeria is expected to be free of open defecation by 2025. The deadline has been set, through the government’s proclamation and efforts are in top gear to achieve set objectives.
At the front in this laudable project is the Federal Ministry of Water Resources as mandated and empowered by the Executive Order 009 of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Specially charted for this goal is the National Open Defecation Free (ODF) roadmap to be executed by the Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat. The agency is expected to collaborate with other agencies of government as well as the Organized Private Sector (OPS), as initiators and enforcers of the construction of toilets, not only within public facilities but in all habitable centres with a view to reducing and, consequently, eradicate the occurrence of open defecation.
Open-minded defecation in Nigeria is widely viewed to have assumed a pandemic proportion, which amongst other health challenges, is a major cause of vector and water borne diseases and high mortality rate amongst children especially those below five years of age.
Though most governments, at all levels; state, federal and local, have made it compulsory for all residents to have pit latrines, at the minimum, the reality, however, is still that lots of landlords and facilities managers in major towns and cities in Nigeria have not complied with this directive. This non-compliance is particularly rife in the slums, the rural communities and riverine areas where waterways are still the viable option by the people for excretion. This practice is dangerous to decent human habitation and should be strongly discouraged.
As such, efforts have to be intensified, not only to sensitise, but to evaluate and enforce the relevant laws that necessitate the provision of toilet facilities and pit latrines as part of the necessities for decent living in towns, cities and even villages across the country.
The Ministry of Water Resources, in synergy with the information ministry and ministries of health and environment and other relevant agencies at the federal and state levels should rise up to this herculean and yet important task of massive sensitization and campaigns against open defecation. These campaigns should also be intensified more in both rural and urban centres and enforcement should be without prejudice.
To achieve a holistic and total eradication of open defecation in the country, therefore, requires urgent involvement and collaboration of other critical stakeholders in Nigeria. Governments, at all levels must, as a matter of utmost importance ensure that all MDAs, government agencies and stakeholders are aggressively mobilized and empowered to drive the policies and laws against open defecation in the country. Only when this happens will Nigeria, truly and sincerely be on the path towards an Open Defecation Free Society.
Private developers, involved in the construction of malls, shopping plazas and complexes, should be compelled, not only to build toilet facilities in their structures, but build enough toilets commensurate with the size of such structures for unfettered access and the convenience of all occupants and visitors to such buildings. There is no value in a locked toilet or one that is not hygienically maintained. Some of the toilets may be reserved for the occupants but some, also, have to be made available to the visitors. This will be an ideal situation.
Governments, in conjunction and with directives to organized transport unions and park operators across the country should encourage and enforce the provision of toilet facilities at the parks, possibly without any additional costs attached, for the convenience of commuters. After all, such commuters should be treated as customers, who patronize malls and shopping centres. Such toilets should be constructed with cognisance to passenger traffic. This will greatly reduce the menace of open defecation in the country.
Open defecation is particularly rampant in the northern states of the country. The good news, however, is that the prevalence of this scourge is not being handled with kid gloves.
Many northern states, through their governors, have keyed into the policies of the Federal Ministry of Waters Resources in the fight against open defecation. States like Jigawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi and even the Federal Capital Territory are up in arms against this environmental hazard.
Kaduna State government even went as far as to declare a State of Emergency Against Open Defecation while Bauchi State, very ardent in this campaign, has achieved commendable progress such that Dass Local Government Area got certified as an Open- defecation free Local Government Area.
These efforts, very remarkable, are still inadequate in achieving a defecation-free status in Nigeria by 2025. More hands have to be on deck if this campaign must be successful within the projected time-frame.
Efforts should be made by MDAs to put their toilets in order; repair, manage and make them attractive and useful to staff and visitors. This, undoubtedly will go a long way in curbing open defecation in the country. The organized private sector, OPS, also has critical roles to play in ensuring the success of government policy on open defecation in the country. They should ensure that toilet facilities are not only provided in their business premises and environment, such facilities should equally be upgraded and maintained and fit for human use.
In the same token, all major national and international markets across the country must be equipped with adequate and functional toilet facilities for the convenience of buyers and sellers. The need to maintain the highest standards of hygiene in the markets cannot be overemphasized as markets are where raw food items are sold and purchased for consumption. Foods and other related items sold in the markets must be kept in a hygienic condition for the safety of all.
Equally crucial to the success of the national campaigns against open defecation is the collaboration of the third tier of government at the local level. As the government is closer to the mass of the people at the grassroots, the local government authorities are in a better position to drive the policy without any hitches. If the local council administrators and their agencies are alive to their responsibility, as was in the past, through the activities of sanitary inspectors, the problems of open defecation would not have arisen in the first instance. The routine checks of residential buildings, business premises, parks, markets and amusement centres in all local government areas by sanitary inspectors, to ensure strict compliance with hygienic rules will not only curb open defecation but will greatly impact on, and improve the health standards of Nigerians.
Social clubs, amusement parks and other centres of relaxation must also be co-opted into the efforts of the government aimed at eradicating open defecation in the country.
The management of these centres, particularly in the urban centres must ensure that they provide adequate toilet facilities for the use and convenience of their customers. This will discourage the unwholesome practice of defecating in drainages, gutters and open spaces by their customers.
It is therefore safe to conclude by emphasising the fact that government alone cannot be saddled with the sole responsibility of ensuring eradication of open defecation in the country.
While it is the duty and responsibility of the government to initiate policies and framework needed to achieve specific objectives in the country, it is the responsibility of the relevant agencies created by law to drive, implement and enforce such policies for maximum effects.
There is the need to create a special enforcement agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Environment with the executive mandate to enforce government’s guidelines and policies on eradication of open defecation, provision and maintenance of conveniences in all government establishments, parks, amusement centres, markets, clubs, public and private business environments in the country.
All environmental laws should be further reviewed, strengthened, given more bite and aggressively enforced where there is a breach across the country. The policy thrust on the matter, contained in President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 009 will only make huge impact and achieve desired goals in the country, if they ate effectively driven and implemented by all critical stakeholders mentioned with active support of all Nigerians imbibing the culture of hygienic living.
- Bakare is president, Truth Be Told Network.
Source: thenationonlineng.net