Abuja:More than 480,000 Nigerians across 1,283 communities have gained improved sanitation access through a 24-month intervention supported by the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund and implemented by WaterAid. The project aimed to accelerate access to safely managed sanitation and strengthen related systems.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, Head of Programmes at WaterAid, disclosed that over 16,000 basic household toilets were built, with more than 4,600 completed as safely managed sanitation facilities. The initiative helped 1,283 communities achieve open-defecation-free status through various engagement strategies, including house-to-house interactions, mass media campaigns, radio programs, and digital communication.
The project also leveraged digital platforms to reach over 900,000 people with hygiene behavior messages to prevent disease and protect families. It was designed to tackle recurring issues such as cholera outbreaks, open defecation, inadequate sanitation services, and limited access to safe hygiene facilities.
WaterAid supported sanitation entrepreneurs by providing training, mentoring, and access to financing, which helped businesses expand, create jobs, and enhance sanitation services. Women and young people emerged as key figures in sanitation entrepreneurship and community leadership through the program.
Mr. Abu Jamilu, Director of the Department of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized the need for strong collaboration among government entities, development partners, and the private sector to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG 6) on water and sanitation by 2030. He noted that the government alone cannot meet the country’s sanitation targets and called for coordinated efforts at all levels.
Jamilu highlighted the importance of private-sector involvement in the sanitation value chain, including faecal sludge management, and reported that 179 Local Government Areas in Nigeria had achieved open-defecation-free status. He stressed that SDG 6 is crucial for broader goals in poverty, health, education, and gender equality.
Mr. Mahmud Bose, Director-General of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency, noted that the intervention strengthened sanitation services, particularly in faecal sludge management. Bauchi State has adopted new technologies and expanded the project to additional areas, with local governments working on establishing final disposal sites for safe sludge management.