Nigeria’s sanitation landscape presents a stark reality. As of September 2024, only 134 Local Government Areas (LGAs) out of 774 have achieved Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status. More alarming is that 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, still have zero ODF LGAs, a year before the target year – 2025 – by which time all 774 LGAs across the country is expected to be open-defecation-free.
The Math Behind the Challenge
Using Temple Chukwuemeka Oraeki’s ODF Math:
x – y = z
x = 774 (Total LGAs in Nigeria)
y = 134 (Current ODF LGAs)
z = Number of LGAs yet to be ODF (640)
The Target: z = 0 by 2025
With barely a year left to achieve this target, critical questions arise:
- At what rate must progress be made to reach z = 0 by 2025?
- What strategies can be employed to accelerate sanitation efforts?
- Will combining past efforts suffice to achieve the target, or is a radical shift necessary?
The Imperative for Accelerated Progress
The numbers underscore the urgency for Nigeria to exponentially scale up its sanitation initiatives. The country must at this point:
- Intensify community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and sustainable total sanitation approach, which incorporates sanitation marketing to improve toilet uptakes.
- Enhance policy implementation and access to sustainable sanitation financing models across states.
- Deepen inter-sectoral collaborations, especially with the private sector.
- Leverage technology to enhance accountability within the sector.
- Adopt citizen-science approach to generate evidence-based data to improve demand and supply of improved sanitation services across states in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s sanitation revolution requires collective action. We must confront the stark reality, acknowledge progress made, and strive for exponential growth. Achieving ‘z’ close to zero by 2025 demands unwavering commitment, innovative strategies, and sustained efforts.
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