By Maryam Abeeb
The Chief WASH, UNICEF, Dr Jane Bevan has disclosed that Nigeria needs to build about 11.58million toilets to meet Open Defecation Free, ODF 2025 target .
Making Nigeia Open Defecation Free by 2025 is a National Roadmap which was developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with invaluable support from UNICEF and other key sector players across Nigeria.
In 2016, the National Council on Water Resources endorsed this road map as a mean to eliminate open defecation in Nigeria.
She made this known during her remark at the 1st toilet business owners conference held in Abuja, themed: providing the toilet Nigeria needs to end Open Defecation (The role of OTB) .
According to her, there is needs to build, 11.5million toilets in households, 50,783 toilets in schools, 2,380 toilets in hospitals, 2,784 toilets in Markets and motor parks across the country.
“Approximately 3.85millions toilets needed per year to eliminate open defecation by 2025.
“Investing in sanitation means investing in health, education, equality, environment and poverty eradication,” she said .
Bevan added that it is more than social good, noting that it is sound economic development policy and it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to contribute to it.
She noted that there is need to achieve at least 224 ODF LGA’s annually between now and 2025.
“Nigeria is set to achieve ODF by 2059 (36years) at current rate using linear forecast.
“ However, we only have until 2025(3years) according to the. National ODF roadmap to achieve this goal.”
