WaterAid: 120m Nigerians Lack Access to Decent toilets

WaterAid: 120m Nigerians Lack Access to Decent toilets

As the United Nations marks the World Toilet Day Monday, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), WaterAid Nigeria, has said that more than 120 million Nigerians don’t have access to decent toilets in their homes.

The organisation said on its website Monday that ensuring everyone, everywhere had access to potable water and a decent toilet by 2030 was crucial to actualising the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.

It said that Nigeria had made solid progress in reaching people with water, as seven in 10 people now have potable water to drink.

According to the organisation, with fewer than three in 10 people having a decent toilet, Nigeria has a big task ahead of it to install the right sanitation systems.

“We are working with the government as it renews its efforts to reach the people who are most in need of these essential services.

“59 million people don’t have clean water, that is one in every three people.

“123 million people don’t have a decent toilet, that is seven in 10 people who are more likely to be ill, more often.

“59,500 children under five die a year, due to poor water and sanitation,” it said.

WaterAid said that it was simply not right that 62 million children in Nigeria do not have access to a decent toilet at home.

It said that 52 per cent of schools do not have basic sanitation; hence, children were being dangerously exposed to illness that could kill them.

The UN marks the World Toilet Day on November 19, to draw attention on sanitation crisis. (NAN)

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