By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

The high prevalence of open defecation in Nigeria has increased the spread of  the diseases.

According to the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) National Outcome Routine Mapping Report 2021, 48 million people in Nigeria,representing 24 percent of the population ,practice open defecation.

In an interview with The Hope, an  environmentalist, Mrs. Titilayo Adedeji urged residents to build toilets in their homes to improve sanitation.

She stressed the need for consistent awareness campaigns on open defecation to eradicate the spread of diseases in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr. Dayo Adekunle encouraged residents to prioritise their health to ensure a healthier society.

According to him, to end open defecation in Nigeria, religious leaders, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and the government at all levels must work together to promote a clean and healthy environment.

He condemned the situation where open defecation has become the norm, with many Nigerians relieving themselves outdoors instead of using toilets, opting for bushes, gutters, streams, canals, or other unsanitary locations.

He attributed this practice to the lack of proper sanitary facilities. He also noted that out of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, only 126 are free from open defecation.

The experts called for urgent action and sustainable solutions to address the issue.