Open defecation has become disturbing practice and many people in the affected communities end up with different preventable ailments and diseases which often lead to permanent disability and death.
It is never a nice feeling passing an area while covering the nose from offensive odors and if not careful enough, marching the excretes of others.
Nigeria as one of the populated countries in the world engage in open defecation with more than 46million Nigerians openly practicing this menace as reported by UNICEF, 2021.
Despite the global push to put an end to open defecation, it has increasingly continued in each part of the country.
Open defecation is an act in which people engage in excreting publicly without using public toilets, rather excreting in water bodies, bushes, recreational centers, farms, gutters and everywhere else.
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In the Northern part of Nigeria, it is like a culture for people especially men both young and old, rural, urban engage in this act.
Daily News 24 interviewed some residents in Kano state on why some men practice open defecations.
An old man caught defecating along Mariri, Kwanar Dawaki road stated that “we know it’s not nice, but what can we do when nature calls? Nature can call at any time, anywhere, when walking, driving and the best thing is to answer the call.
Kassim Abdulmalik, a resident of Sabon Titi, opened up on why he practices open defecation and he says “I am allergic to public toilets because of infections.
“Most public toilet users abuse the toilet facilities in which they urinate and defecate on the floor, saying that ‘most public toilets lack proper hygiene’.
Another resident of Kumbotso identified as Stephen Agu said he preferred using outdoors because he enjoys the cool breeze that hits off his skin while urinating and he also feels like a man while urinating outside.
While discussing with a cart pusher along the new Gandu Layout explained that he will continue to defecate outside until the government takes the responsibility of providing free public toilets everywhere as that of the advanced countries.
He added that “I can not be paying 30 Naira to urinate when I have the chance to urinate anywhere without a dime”.
Health implications of open defecation – Dr. Nura
Dr. Nura, a medical expert in the Sman diagnostic center explained the health implications of open defecation, educating that open defecation affects the health status of the individual as well as communities.
“In an area where this is practiced, there are high chances of spread of diseases and infections such as skin diseases, airborne diseases and others.
Dr. Nura reiterated that open defecation should be stopped, it affects the individual practicing it, which can leads to diarrhea, dysentery, infections, cholera, passing of stool with blood”
“When people use outside to defecate, there is high tendency of germs and microbes entering their body, thus can cause them harm beyond thinking”
“Contaminated water when taken regularly can cause serious health problems and may even lead to death of individuals, and in most rural areas open defecation is passed in water bodies” He added.
We are to build free 50 toilets in Kano – Sunusi
The Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Environment, Mal. Sunusi Na’isa said the state government has public toilets all over Kano and efforts to build 50 toilets in different crannies of the state in 2022.
“The ministry is trying their very best to see that, open defecation comes to an end, Kano to be declared free from open defecation.”
He added that Kano state is putting a bill into law to punish open defecators and also advised residents to avoid open defecation and help in keeping Kano clean.
Efforts of government to end open defecation in Nigeria
Efforts have been made over the years to reduce the cases of open defecation in Nigeria. Regrettably, they remain mainly efforts, with only 14 of 774 local governments in the country free of open defecation.
In 2014, Nigeria embarked on an ambitious five-year mission to eliminate open defecation nation-wide, building millions of toilets and aiming to change the behavior of millions of Nigerians.
In 2019, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed an Executive Order 009 to tackle open defecation. In the same year, Nigeria’s Ministry of Water Resources¸ in collaboration with UNICEF and some other key agencies, launched the initiative tagged ‘Nigeria Open-Defecation-Free By 2025: A National Road Map’ in order to end the inimical practice by 2025.
The Minister of Environment, Sharon Ikeazor announced in 2021 that the president has given directives to put an end to open defecation at all levels, stating that soon the ministry will start naming and shaming organizations and institutions that fail to put their toilet facilities in order.
In 2020, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) set to support 10 local government areas of Kano state to attain the status of Open Defecation Free (ODF). These LGA includes Madobi, Takai, Gaya, Kabo, Dawakin Tofa, Danbatta, Wudil, Sumaila, Garko, and Doguwa.
All In line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation by 2030.
Open defecation affects the environment, health, and economy for there to be sustainable development to maintain a conducive environment, good health and wellbeing of individuals.
